WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 208
<NAME> THE BOND FUND OF AMERICA - CLASS B
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-1-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 9,648,990
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 9,006,612
<RECEIVABLES> 178,491
<ASSETS-OTHER> 22,440
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 9,207,543
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 37,777
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 46,509
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 84,286
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 9,812,198
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,099,410
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (5,616)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (35,550)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (647,775)
<NET-ASSETS> 9,123,257
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 7,800
<INTEREST-INCOME> 362,444
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 34,041
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 336,203
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 11,124
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (166,140)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 181,187
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 227
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,126,937
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 40,943
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 13,416
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (354,077)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 3,354
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (46,674)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 15,160
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 34,041
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 9,166,403
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 12.92
<PER-SHARE-NII> .20
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.13)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .24
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.75
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .014
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
