Mr. Cantor agreed that the high-end sector is tightening.
The arrival of high-definition television has been a significant factor in pushing up sales in the high-end sector.
"Spending an average of $11 million per club is pretty rich in terms of build-out, even for the high-end sector," he said.
Rapha occupies a position in the high-end sector of the market and there's no denying that its clothing is expensive, but premium fabrics and construction deliver performance and longevity.
In the high-end sector, the marketing slowdown reported in the fourth quarter of 2002 may be reflected in fewer closings and lower prices in the first quarter of 2003.
"We are trying to be the highest quality chocolate at a competitive price in that high-end sector," Ms. Metcalfe said, "sort of the way that Lexus came into the United States market competing against Mercedes and BMW".
But Barcelona's high-end sector is proving to be even more resilient than its overall market, said Jordi Puig, national director of prime residential property for Spain at the real estate agency CBRE.
IN Westchester, well known for its pricey homes and estates in sought-after locales like Bedford and Chappaqua, many buyers and sellers are wondering whether the high-end sector of the real estate market is rebounding — or still mired in the downturn that took hold two years ago and has been slow to let go.
"It's clearly benefiting from new product releases in the high-end sector with 3D sets and gaining market share from struggling Japanese rivals," said Kim Ji-san, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities.
There was no technical problem increasing production of these romantic pink bubbles and, as demand was strong and rosé is the high-end sector of the champagne market, there was pricing flexibility, too i.e., they could increase supply and raise prices.
