The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) reported Tuesday morning that U.S. home prices rose 0.6% month-over-month in October. Compared with October 2013, the house price index has gained 4.5%. The index was unchanged for September.

The consensus estimate for October called for an increase of 0.2%.

The FHFA monthly index is calculated using purchase prices of houses with mortgages that have been sold to or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. The index is 5.1% below its April 2007 peak and roughly equivalent to its level in September 2005.

For the past 12 months, gains have been greatest in the Pacific states, up 6%, and the least in the Middle Atlantic states, which are up 0.8%. The index rose in all nine Census Bureau divisions.

The October index value has reached an 18-month high of 215.4.

Home prices posted month-over-month gains in six Census Bureau divisions and declines in three.

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