Rival soft drink companies PepsiCo and Coca-Cola said on Feb. 10 that rising costs for packaging and transportation could put pressure on profits this year, despite the two having exceeded sales expectations due to robust demand from consumers. The announcements were made as the Labor Department released its dismal report, showing U.S. inflation accelerating to a 7.5 percent annual rate in January at a four-decade high. Coca-Cola’s earnings and revenue topped most analysts’ estimates, but the company’s 2022 forecast was weaker than expected. The soft drink company’s net sales rose 10 percent to $9.46 billion, topping expectations of $8.96 billion. Coca-Cola’s organic revenue climbed 9 percent in the fourth quarter, driven by a 10 percent increase in prices. It earned 45 cents per share, beating the 41 cents per share from previous estimates. Analysts expect Coca-Cola’s full-year adjusted earnings per share to increase from 5 to 6 percent from the …