U.S. home prices rose 12.1 percent in April compared to the same month last year, according to a new report from housing data and analytics provider CoreLogic. That number is the biggest year-over-year increase since February 2006 and the 14th consecutive monthly increase in national home prices. On a month-over-month basis, including distressed sales, home prices increased by 3.2 percent in April compared to March.

In Massachusetts, home prices increased 8.6 percent in April, according to the firm’s data, the 15th highest increase in the nation.

Excluding distressed sales, home prices increased on a year-over-year basis by 11.9 percent in April 2013 compared to April 2012. On a month-over-month basis, excluding distressed sales, home prices increased 3 percent in April 2013 compared to March 2013. Distressed sales include short sales and real estate owned (REO) transactions.

"House price growth continues to surprise to the upside," Mark Fleming, chief economist for CoreLogic, said in a statement. "Increasing demand for new and existing homes, coupled with low inventory, has created a virtuous cycle for price gains, most clearly seen in the Western states with year-over-year gains of 20 percent or more."

CoreLogic predicts that next month’s gains should be even better. According to the company pending sales index, May 2013 home prices, including distressed sales, are expected to rise by 12.5 percent on a year-over-year basis from May 2012 and rise by 2.7 percent on a month-over-month basis from April 2013.

"For the second consecutive month, all 50 states registered year-over-year home price gains excluding sales of distressed homes. We expect this trend to continue, bolstered by tight supplies and pent up buyer demand," Anand Nallathambi, president and CEO of CoreLogic, said in a statement.

Including distressed sales, the five states with the highest home price appreciation were: Nevada, 24.6 percent; California, 19.4 percent; Arizona, 17.3 percent; Hawaii, 17 percent; and Oregon, 15.5 percent.