By Scott DiSavino Jan 27 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms this week kept oil and natural gas rigs steady, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co BKR.O said in its closely followed report on Friday. The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, remains at 771 in the week to Jan. 27. Even when producers may have been looking to boost output, analysts said soaring inflation and supply disruptions in 2022 forced many energy firms to spend the extra money on more expensive equipment and rising labor costs.