Cost of home improvement up in 2003. .

* Every year, millions of Americans undertake a home improvement project. According to the new Johnnie Walker Red Label Home Improvement Index, which tracks inflation in the home improvement market, those planning a project in 2003 may be paying as much as 10.2 percent more this year than they did last.

After polling more than 160 contractors across the U.S., the Index figured the increase based on the cost of 10 popular home improvement projects. The rate is more than three times the government's rate of 3.4 percent inflation for the year.

When asked why th