Another gas-price investigation is in the books. The verdict? Market forces can pretty much explain all that’s happened. Spokane-area motorists could even revel in the fact that they pay the lowest prices in the state, but they won’t. No, the complaint will be that next-door neighbor Idaho has lower prices due to lower taxes. But guess what? Idahoans aren’t happy with prices, either.

The latest investigation was conducted by Washington state Attorney General Rob McKenna. He had reported in January that there was no illegal price fixing, but he promised to deliver an explanation. And the results he reported Thursday were entirely predictable. Demand is high because of the emerging economies of China and India. The cost of crude has reached record levels. Refining costs are up.

We doubt this will placate the average motorist, who will complain to politicians, who will demand investigations, which will once again lead nowhere. The good news Thursday is that gas consumption per person is down 11 percent since 1999, according to the Sightline Institute. But that decline has been nearly offset by population gains.

We’re not going to be bailed out by indictments. Let’s concentrate on realistic solutions.