Education costs tripled since 1990

College tuition and fees rose 275 percent between 1990 and 2009, according to a new analysis from the American Institute for Economic Research. That's nearly four times the rate of inflation: the Consumer Price Index rose 71 percent in that span.

Some other things that rose in price by 200 percent or more: K-12 tuition and fees (251 percent), hospital services, nursing homes and adult day care (246 percent) and household fuel oil (206 percent). Cheaper now than in 1990: photographic equipment, toys, televisions and personal computers.

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