I remember buying sets like 4 years ago for only like $20.00 Now those sam sets would cost like $40.00.
I'm currently looking at a LEGO catolog from Fall 2004 and I see a $20 set (8800) and it contains 190 pieces. However, now I'm looking at a $20 LEGO set (7631) released late '09 and it has 189 bricks.
So as you can see, prices have not gone up at all.