Home prices have declined steadily over the past three months and now trail last year by 3.9 percent, according to the latest CoreLogic Home Price Index.

This follows a decline of 3.8 percent in September 2011 compared to September 2010. Excluding distressed sales, year-over-year prices declined by 0.5 percent in October 2011 compared to October 2010 and by 2.1 percent in September 2011 compared to September 2010. Distressed sales include short sales and real estate owned (REO) transactions.

“Home prices continue to decline in response to the weak demand for housing. While many housing statistics are basically moving sideways, prices continue to correct for a supply and demand imbalance. Looking forward, our forecasts indicate flat growth through 2013,” said Mark Fleming, chief economist for CoreLogic.

• Including distressed sales, the five states with the highest appreciation were: West Virginia (+4.8 percent), South Dakota (+3.1 percent), New York (+3.0 percent), District of Columbia (+2.4 percent) and Alaska (+2.1 percent).

• Including distressed sales, the five states with the greatest depreciation were: Nevada (-12.1 percent), Illinois (-9.4 percent), Arizona (-8.1 percent), Minnesota (-7.9 percent) and Georgia (-7.3 percent).

• Excluding distressed sales, the five states with the highest appreciation were: South Carolina (+4.6 percent), Maine (+3.1 percent), New York (+3.1 percent), Alaska (+2.9 percent) and Kansas (+2.8 percent).

• Excluding distressed sales, the five states with the greatest depreciation were: Nevada (-8.8 percent), Arizona (-7.0 percent), Minnesota (-5.7 percent), Delaware (-3.9 percent) and Georgia (-3.6 percent).

• Including distressed transactions, the peak-to-current change in the national HPI (from April 2006 to October 2011) was -32.0 percent. Excluding distressed transactions, the peak-to-current change in the HPI for the same period was -22.4 percent.

• Of the top 100 Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) measured by population, 78 are showing year-over-year declines in October, two fewer than in September.