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With the release of the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans recently, and those on it needing $1.3 billion net worth to even be on it, it underscores the rise of the rich in the global economy.

Citing the Cap Gemini Study, Reuters says the number of millionaires and billionaires worldwide are increasing at a fast rate, and now account for $37.2 trillion as of the end of 2006. That's a lot of money to spend on toys - and they do!

In response to the demand, the prices of luxury goods has increased twice as fast as consumer prices in 2007, the study found.

This isn't an anomoly, but the way of life for the wealthy, as the Cost of Living Extremely Well Index (CLEWI) has performed like this over the last 30 years. With the U.S. consumer price index starting in 1976, the same year as the CLEWI, the results show it has been a steady trend over that period of time. In 2007, the U.S. consumer price index stands at 365, while the CLEWI is now at 772 points.

"The bottom line is, if you have money and you want to spend it you're going to spend it," said Scott DeCarlo at Forbes. "A normal consumer may pull back, but if you're buying any of these items I don't think the cost of inflation will have any effects."

The health of the luxury goods and services market, as revealed by the CLEWI, is very healthy if you're serving that market. If you're in the market as a consumer, it'll just cost you more to buy what you want. But when you see the history, this is just the way things have been trending for decades.

The luxury market is healthy as well as are the wealthy. The pot is just growing bigger as the world economy surges ahead. This will be a strong demographic for years to come.