The cost of college textbooks in the US has risen faster than the cost of healthcare, house prices and inflation!

College tuition is swiftly increasing, but not quite as much as the price of textbooks. It doesn't look like any cost is increasing quite as quickly as college textbooks actually. Their prices have outpaced health care costs, house prices and inflation.

Textbook prices have increased by 812% from thirty years ago. According to the National Association of College Stores, the average college student spends $655 on textbooks per year. The College Board, though, says the annual price of books and materials is $1,168.

So where does all this money go. Over three quarters of the book's price goes back to the publisher while a fifth goes to the store. Publishers often include CD-roms and access to websites, which increases the price. And they release new editions as often as every 4 years so students can't use discounted, used copies.