FOR the multimillionaire with a taste for champagne and caviar, life has got more expensive this year, writes David Langton.

Figures show the overall price of luxury goods and services has risen 6%, three times the rate of inflation, according to Stonehage, a company specialising in financial advice to the rich.

One of the sharpest increases was for a case of Lafite Rothschild champagne, which rose 117% to £9,250. Caviar was up by 28%.

Those with a predilection for expensive timepieces will now have to spend £19,000 for a limited edition Calatrava by the Swiss watchmakers Patek Philippe, up 26.7%.

Even staples have seen double-digit rises: those wanting to be seen in the latest Range Rover model will be paying 19.8% more than they were last year at £74,900.

That Knightsbridge apartment is also even more exclusive, with rents up 25% in central London since 2002. The rising cost of a top British education has exceeded inflation, increasing 7% at schools such as Westminster.

Leisure is also becoming pricey. Those who wish to rub shoulders with the jetset will have to fork out an extra 9% to maintain a stable of polo ponies, while a two-day grouse shoot is up 8.3%.

Those seeking to emulate Roman Abramovich, the Russian billionaire owner of Chelsea, the cost of an executive box at Chelsea is up 25% to £117,500.

However, the cost of booking entry-level private jets is down 7%, a week's yacht hire has fallen 5.2% and women will find breast implants 10% cheaper.

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