The value of new construction starts climbed 9% in January to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $621 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics. The boost was powered by an 85% monthly increase in nonbuilding construction activity. That sector in turn was driven by starts of $6 billion for two liquefied natural gas export facilities, $1.5 billion for a liquefied petroleum gas export terminal and $1 billion for a liquefied natural gas receiving terminal, all in Texas. However, starts for nonresidential buildings were down 10% from January 2014, while housing starts were down 3%.