U.S. home prices rose nearly 10 percent in February according to the latest figures from the Case-Shiller home price index.

Compared to February 2012, average U.S. home prices rose 9.3 percent for 20-City Composite Index of repeat sales that Case-Shiller tracks.  The index was up 0.3 percent from January to February.

All 20 cities covered by the index posted year-over-year increases for at least two consecutive months. The highest spike was in Phoenix, where home prices were up 23 percent over February 2012. Boston home prices were up a more modest 5.2 percent in that same period.

In 16 of the 20 cities, including Boston, annual growth rates rose from the last month. Detroit, Miami, Minneapolis and Phoenix saw slight annual deceleration ranging from -0.1 to -0.4 percentage points.

 "Home prices continue to show solid increases across all 20 cities," David M. Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices, publisher of the Case-Shiller Indices, said in a statement. "The 10- and 20-City Composites recorded their highest annual growth rates since May 2006; seasonally adjusted monthly data show all 20 cities saw higher prices for two months in a row – the last time that happened was in early 2005."

 Some of the cities hardest hit by the housing crash have seen the highest price climbs over the past year, including Phoenix, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Atlanta, while older cities like Boston, Chicago and New York saw more modest increases.

 "Despite some recent mixed economic reports for March, housing continues to be one of the brighter spots in the economy," Blitzer said in a statement.