Theoretically according to the gold/oil ratio, oil investing years might include any year when the gold/oil ratio rose above 15, that is, when the price of an ounce of gold was "more expensive" than 15 barrels of oil, say about 25 barrels as in 1998, indicating that the price of oil was a bargain relative to gold:
1980 16.37
1986 25.10
1987 25.51
1988 29.39 ($14.87/barrel)
1989 20.81
1990 16.54
1991 17.94
1992 17.86
1993 21.49
1994 24.52
1995 22.91
1996 18.95
1997 17.45
1998 24.71 ($11.91/barrel)
1999 16.86
2009 18.17
2010 17.20
2011 18.06
2012 19.76
2013 15.71
2013 15.71
You'll notice very few ads on the radio, on the internet, or generally, for oil. You don't have to sell something that's on sale. Gold ads proliferate for a reason: Gold is too expensive, but the mother of idiots is always pregnant, providing another customer.
