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002 B000000 SHAWNEE MISSION
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<PAGE> PAGE 2
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013 B010001 KANSAS CITY
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<PAGE> PAGE 3
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022 C000009 15328
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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<PAGE> PAGE 6
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SIGNATURE THEODORE W. HOWARD
TITLE V.P. & TREASURER
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE SEMIANNUAL REPORT
TO SHAREHOLDERS DATED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000310254
<NAME> UNITED HIGH INCOME FUND, INC.
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 939,230,608
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 957,783,155
<RECEIVABLES> 38,208,099
<ASSETS-OTHER> 59,191
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 4,641
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 996,055,086
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 10,195,000
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 4,396,212
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 14,591,212
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 106,172,586
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,299,607,193
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 106,172,586
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1,677,669
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (444,546,121)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 18,552,547
<NET-ASSETS> 981,463,874
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 280,260
<INTEREST-INCOME> 46,251,099
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (4,439,073)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 42,092,286
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (13,622,702)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 28,645,551
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 57,115,135
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (41,164,749)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 3,834,586
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (8,552,388)
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<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.39)
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</TABLE>