<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 08/31/98
000 C000000 0000044201
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 THE GROWTH FUND OF AMERICA, INC.
001 B000000 811-862
001 C000000 4154219360
002 A000000 ONE MARKET, STEUART TOWER, SUITE 1800
002 B000000 SAN FRANCISCO
002 C000000 CA
002 D010000 94105
002 D020000 1409
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 N
007 B000000 0
007 C010100 1
007 C010200 2
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
007 C011100 11
007 C011200 12
007 C011300 13
007 C011400 14
007 C011500 15
007 C011600 16
007 C011700 17
007 C011800 18
007 C011900 19
007 C012000 20
007 C012100 21
007 C012200 22
007 C012300 23
007 C012400 24
007 C012500 25
007 C012600 26
007 C012700 27
007 C012800 28
<PAGE> PAGE 2
007 C012900 29
007 C013000 30
007 C013100 31
007 C013200 32
007 C013300 33
007 C013400 34
007 C013500 35
007 C013600 36
007 C013700 37
007 C013800 38
007 C013900 39
007 C014000 40
007 C014100 41
007 C014200 42
007 C014300 43
007 C014400 44
007 C014500 45
007 C014600 46
007 C014700 47
007 C014800 48
007 C014900 49
007 C015000 50
008 A000001 CAPITAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-8055
008 D010001 LOS ANGELES
008 D020001 CA
008 D030001 90071
008 D040001 1402
011 A000001 AMERICAN FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
011 B000001 8-17168
011 C010001 LOS ANGELES
011 C020001 CA
011 C030001 90071
011 C040001 1402
012 A000001 AMERICAN FUNDS SERVICE COMPANY
012 B000001 84-00316
012 C010001 BREA
012 C020001 CA
012 C030001 92821
012 C040001 2205
013 A000001 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
013 B010001 LOS ANGELES
013 B020001 CA
013 B030001 90017
013 B040001 1532
015 A000001 STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 BOSTON
015 C020001 MA
015 C030001 02101
<PAGE> PAGE 3
015 E010001 X
015 A000002 AUSTRACLEAR LIMITED
015 B000002 S
015 C010002 SYDNEY
015 D010002 AUSTRALIA
015 D020002 2000
015 E040002 X
015 A000003 RESERVE BANK INFORMATION AND TRANSFER SYSTEM
015 B000003 S
015 C010003 SYDNEY
015 D010003 AUSTRALIA
015 D020003 2000
015 E040003 X
015 A000004 GENERALE BANK
015 B000004 S
015 C010004 BRUSSELS
015 D010004 BELGIUM
015 D020004 1000
015 E040004 X
015 A000005 CAISSE INTERPROFESSIONELLE DE DEPOTS ET DE VI
015 B000005 S
015 C010005 BRUSSELS
015 D010005 BELGIUM
015 E040005 X
015 A000006 CANADA TRUSTCO MORTGAGE COMPANY
015 B000006 S
015 C010006 TORONTO
015 D010006 CANADA
015 D020006 M4J 2T2
015 E040006 X
015 A000007 THE CANADIAN DEPOSITORY FOR SECURITIES LTD
015 B000007 S
015 C010007 TORONTO
015 D010007 CANADA
015 D020007 M5H SC9
015 E040007 X
015 A000008 DEN DANSKE BANK
015 B000008 S
015 C010008 COPENHAGEN
015 D010008 DENMARK
015 D020008 DK 1092
015 E040008 X
015 A000009 VAERDIPAPIRCENTRALEN THE DANISH SECURITIES
015 B000009 S
015 C010009 TAASTRUPT
015 D010009 DENMARK
015 D020009 DK 2630
015 E040009 X
015 A000010 MERITA BANK LIMITED
015 B000010 S
015 C010010 HELSINKI
<PAGE> PAGE 4
015 D010010 FINLAND
015 D020010 00500
015 E040010 X
015 A000011 THE FINNISH CENTRAL SECURITIES DEPOSITORY
015 B000011 S
015 C010011 ESPOO
015 D010011 FINLAND
015 E040011 X
015 A000012 BANQUE PARIBAS
015 B000012 S
015 C010012 PARIS
015 D010012 FRANCE
015 D020012 75078
015 E040012 X
015 A000013 SOCIETE INTERPROFESSIONELLE POUR LA COMPENSAT
015 B000013 S
015 C010013 PARIS
015 D010013 FRANCE
015 E040013 X
015 A000014 BANQUE DE FRANCE, SATURNE SYSTEM
015 B000014 S
015 C010014 PARIS
015 D010014 FRANCE
015 D020014 CEDEX-01
015 E040014 X
015 A000015 DRESDNER BANK AG
015 B000015 S
015 C010015 FRANKFURT AM MAIN
015 D010015 GERMANY
015 D020015 D-6000
015 E040015 X
015 A000016 DEUTSCHER KASSENVEREIN AG
015 B000016 S
015 C010016 FRANKFURT AM MAIN
015 D010016 GERMANY
015 D020016 D-60313
015 E040016 X
015 A000017 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B000017 S
015 C010017 HONG KONG
015 D010017 CHINA
015 E040017 X
015 A000018 THE CENTRAL CLEARING AND SETTLEMENT SYSTEM
015 B000018 S
015 C010018 HONG KONG
015 D010018 CHINA
015 E040018 X
015 A000019 BANK OF IRELAND
015 B000019 S
015 C010019 DUBLIN
015 D010019 IRELAND
<PAGE> PAGE 5
015 D020019 1
015 E040019 X
015 A000020 CREST
015 B000020 S
015 C010020 DUBLIN
015 D010020 IRELAND
015 D020020 ISSC
015 E040020 X
015 A000021 THE CENTRAL BANK OF IRELAND, GSO
015 B000021 S
015 C010021 DUBLIN
015 D010021 IRELAND
015 D020021 2
015 E040021 X
015 A000022 DELETE
015 A000023 BANQUE PARIBAS
015 B000023 S
015 C010023 MILAN
015 D010023 ITALY
015 D020023 20121
015 E040023 X
015 A000024 BANCA D'ITALIA
015 B000024 S
015 C010024 ROME
015 D010024 ITALY
015 D020024 00100
015 E040024 X
015 A000025 MONTE TITOLI S.P.A.
015 B000025 S
015 C010025 MILAN
015 D010025 ITALY
015 E040025 X
015 A000026 SUMITOMO TRUST & BANKING CO., LTD.
015 B000026 S
015 C010026 TOKYO
015 D010026 JAPAN
015 D020026 103
015 E040026 X
015 A000027 THE DAIWA BANK LIMITED
015 B000027 S
015 C010027 TOKYO
015 D010027 JAPAN
015 D020027 103
015 E040027 X
015 A000028 THE FUJI BANK, LIMITED
015 B000028 S
015 C010028 TOKYO
015 D010028 JAPAN
015 D020028 103
015 E040028 X
015 A000029 JAPAN SECURITIES DEPOSITORY CENTER (JASDEC)
<PAGE> PAGE 6
015 B000029 S
015 C010029 TOKYO
015 D010029 JAPAN
015 D020029 103
015 E040029 X
015 A000030 BANK OF JAPAN NET SYSTEM
015 B000030 S
015 C010030 TOKYO
015 D010030 JAPAN
015 D020030 103
015 E040030 X
015 A000031 THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANK CORP LTD
015 B000031 S
015 C010031 SEOUL
015 D010031 KOREA
015 D020031 1-KA
015 E040031 X
015 A000032 KOREA SECURITIES DEPOSITORY
015 B000032 S
015 C010032 SEOUL
015 D010032 KOREA
015 D020032 150010
015 E040032 X
015 A000033 CITIBANK MEXICO, S.A.
015 B000033 S
015 C010033 MEXICO CITY
015 D010033 MEXICO
015 D020033 06695
015 E040033 X
015 A000034 INSTITUTO PARA EL DEPOSITO DE VALORES
015 B000034 S
015 C010034 COLONIA
015 D010034 MEXICO
015 D020034 CP 06500
015 E040034 X
015 A000035 MEESPIERSON N.V.
015 B000035 S
015 C010035 AMSTERDAM
015 D010035 THE NETHERLANDS
015 D020035 1000
015 E040035 X
015 A000036 NEDERLANDS CENTRAAL INSTITUUT VOOR GIRAAL
015 B000036 S
015 C010036 AMSTERDAM
015 D010036 THE NETHERLANDS
015 E040036 X
015 A000037 DE NEDERLANDSCHE BANK N.V.
015 B000037 S
015 C010037 AMSTERDAM
015 D010037 THE NETHERLANDS
015 D020037 98
<PAGE> PAGE 7
015 E040037 X
015 A000038 ANZ BANKING GROUP LIMITED
015 B000038 S
015 C010038 WELLINGTON
015 D010038 NEW ZEALAND
015 D020038 113-119
015 E040038 X
015 A000039 NEW ZEALAND CENTRAL SECURITIES DEPOSITORY LTD
015 B000039 S
015 C010039 WELLIINGTON
015 D010039 NEW ZEALAND
015 E040039 X
015 A000040 CHRISTIANIA BANK OG KREDITKASSE
015 B000040 S
015 C010040 OSLO
015 D010040 NORWAY
015 D020040 3
015 E040040 X
015 A000041 VERIPAPIRSENTARALEN - VPS
015 B000041 S
015 C010041 OSLO
015 D010041 NORWAY
015 D020041 0501
015 E040041 X
015 A000042 BANCO COMMERCIAL PORTUGUES
015 B000042 S
015 C010042 LISBON
015 D010042 PORTUGAL
015 D020042 1000
015 E040042 X
015 A000043 CENTRAL DE VALORES MOBILAROS
015 B000043 S
015 C010043 LISBON
015 D010043 PORTUGAL
015 D020043 4100
015 E040043 X
015 A000044 THE DEVELOPMENT BANK OF SINGAPORE LIMITED
015 B000044 S
015 C010044 SINGAPORE
015 D010044 SINGAPORE
015 D020044 0104
015 E040044 X
015 A000045 THE CENTRAL DEPOSITORY <PTE> LIMITED
015 B000045 S
015 C010045 SINGAPORE
015 D010045 SINGAPORE
015 D020045 0104
015 E040045 X
015 A000046 BANCO SANTANDER, S.A.
015 B000046 S
015 C010046 MADRID
<PAGE> PAGE 8
015 D010046 SPAIN
015 D020046 28022
015 E040046 X
015 A000047 SERVICIO DE COMPENSACION Y LIQUIDACION DE VAL
015 B000047 S
015 C010047 MADRID
015 D010047 SPAIN
015 D020047 28020
015 E040047 X
015 A000048 BANCO DE ESPANA, ANOTACIONES EN CUENTA
015 B000048 S
015 C010048 MADRID
015 D010048 SPAIN
015 E040048 X
015 A000049 SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN
015 B000049 S
015 C010049 STOCKHOLM
015 D010049 SWEEDEN
015 D020049 S-106 40
015 E040049 X
015 A000050 VARDEPAPPERSCENTRALEN
015 B000050 S
015 C010050 SOLNA
015 D010050 SWEDEN
015 D020050 S-171 18
015 E040050 X
015 A000051 UBS AG
015 B000051 S
015 C010051 ZURICH
015 D010051 SWITZERLAND
015 E040051 X
015 A000052 SCHWEIZERISCHE EFFEKTEN - GIRO AG
015 B000052 S
015 C010052 ZURICH
015 D010052 SWITZERLAND
015 D020052 CH-8002
015 E040052 X
015 A000053 CENTRAL TRUST OF CHINA
015 B000053 S
015 C010053 TAIPEI
015 D010053 TAIWAN
015 D020053 10006
015 E040053 X
015 A000054 TAIWAN SECURITIES CENTRAL DEPOSITORY CO. LTD.
015 B000054 S
015 C010054 TAIPEI
015 D010054 TAIWAN
015 D020054 104
015 E040054 X
015 A000055 CREST
015 B000055 S
<PAGE> PAGE 9
015 C010055 LONDON
015 D010055 UNITED KINGDON
015 D020055 E1 9YN
015 E040055 X
015 A000056 BANQUE NATIONALE DE BELGIUM
015 B000056 S
015 C010056 BRUSSELS
015 D010056 BELGIUM
015 D020056 1000
015 E040056 X
015 A000057 WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION
015 B000057 S
015 C010057 SYDNEY
015 D010057 AUSTRALIA
015 D020057 2000
015 E040057 X
015 A000058 CEDEL S.A.
015 B000058 S
015 C010058 DUCHESSE CHARLOTTE
015 D010058 LUXEMBOURG
015 D020058 L-1331
015 E040058 X
018 000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000 40
019 C000000 CRMCFNDGRP
020 A000001 DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE SECURITIES CORP.
020 B000001 13-2741729
020 C000001 516
020 A000002 PAINE WEBBER INC.
020 B000002 13-2638166
020 C000002 478
020 A000003 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
020 B000003 13-5674085
020 C000003 469
020 A000004 MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INC.
020 B000004 13-2655998
020 C000004 402
020 A000005 SMITH BARNEY INC.
020 B000005 13-1912900
020 C000005 350
020 A000006 JONES (EDWARD D.) & CO.
020 B000006 43-0345811
020 C000006 249
020 A000007 EDWARDS (A.G.) & SONS, INC.
020 B000007 43-0895447
020 C000007 220
020 A000008 CS FIRST BOSTON CORP.
020 B000008 13-5659485
020 C000008 219
020 A000009 ROBERTSON, STEPHENS & CO., L.P.
<PAGE> PAGE 10
020 B000009 94-2524501
020 C000009 209
020 A000010 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
020 B000010 13-5108880
020 C000010 209
021 000000 7217
022 A000001 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
022 B000001 13-5108880
022 C000001 2625722
022 D000001 196808
022 A000002 LEHMAN BROTHERS, INC.
022 B000002 13-2518466
022 C000002 1607776
022 D000002 217272
022 A000003 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
022 B000003 13-5674085
022 C000003 1238116
022 D000003 34787
022 A000004 MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC.
022 B000004 13-2655998
022 C000004 940231
022 D000004 173811
022 A000005 CS FIRST BOSTON CORP.
022 B000005 13-5659485
022 C000005 607039
022 D000005 222594
022 A000006 SALOMON BROTHERS SMITH BARNEY, INC.
022 B000006 13-1912900
022 C000006 506323
022 D000006 265554
022 A000007 GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORP.
022 B000007 13-1500700
022 C000007 696923
022 D000007 0
022 A000008 FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
022 B000008 36-3595942
022 C000008 576811
022 D000008 74594
022 A000009 BT SECURITIES CORP.
022 B000009 13-3311934
022 C000009 422423
022 D000009 0
022 A000010 BA INVESTMENT SERVICES INC.
022 B000010 94-3048535
022 C000010 280083
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 11730390
023 D000000 1510013
024 000000 Y
025 A000001 AMERICAN EXPRESS CREDIT CORP.
025 C000001 D
<PAGE> PAGE 11
025 D000001 46059
025 A000002 DELETE
025 D000002 0
025 D000003 0
025 D000004 0
025 D000005 0
025 D000006 0
025 D000007 0
025 D000008 0
025 D000009 0
025 D000010 0
025 D000011 0
025 D000012 0
025 D000013 0
025 D000014 0
025 D000015 0
025 D000016 0
026 A000000 Y
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
028 A010000 206401
028 A020000 0
028 A030000 0
028 A040000 170950
028 B010000 207185
028 B020000 0
028 B030000 0
028 B040000 187223
028 C010000 171265
028 C020000 0
028 C030000 0
028 C040000 189861
028 D010000 195425
028 D020000 0
028 D030000 0
028 D040000 163110
028 E010000 226017
028 E020000 0
028 E030000 0
028 E040000 233137
028 F010000 185681
028 F020000 0
028 F030000 0
028 F040000 219843
<PAGE> PAGE 12
028 G010000 1191974
028 G020000 0
028 G030000 0
028 G040000 1164124
028 H000000 518818
029 000000 Y
030 A000000 39340
030 B000000 5.75
030 C000000 0.00
031 A000000 6615
031 B000000 0
032 000000 32725
033 000000 0
034 000000 Y
035 000000 85
036 A000000 Y
036 B000000 0
037 000000 N
038 000000 0
039 000000 N
040 000000 Y
041 000000 Y
042 A000000 0
042 B000000 0
042 C000000 0
042 D000000 100
042 E000000 0
042 F000000 0
042 G000000 0
042 H000000 0
043 000000 31284
044 000000 0
045 000000 Y
046 000000 N
047 000000 Y
048 000000 0.000
048 A010000 1000000
048 A020000 0.500
048 B010000 1000000
048 B020000 0.400
048 C010000 1000000
048 C020000 0.370
048 D010000 2000000
048 D020000 0.350
048 E010000 3000000
048 E020000 0.330
048 F010000 5000000
048 F020000 0.315
048 G010000 8000000
048 G020000 0.300
048 H010000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 13
048 H020000 0.000
048 I010000 0
048 I020000 0.000
048 J010000 0
048 J020000 0.000
048 K010000 21000000
048 K020000 0.290
049 000000 N
050 000000 N
051 000000 N
052 000000 N
053 A000000 N
054 A000000 Y
054 B000000 Y
054 C000000 Y
054 D000000 N
054 E000000 N
054 F000000 N
054 G000000 N
054 H000000 Y
054 I000000 N
054 J000000 Y
054 K000000 N
054 L000000 Y
054 M000000 Y
054 N000000 N
054 O000000 Y
055 A000000 N
055 B000000 N
056 000000 N
057 000000 N
058 A000000 N
059 000000 Y
060 A000000 Y
060 B000000 Y
061 000000 1000
062 A000000 N
062 B000000 0.0
062 C000000 0.0
062 D000000 0.0
062 E000000 0.0
062 F000000 0.0
062 G000000 0.0
062 H000000 0.0
062 I000000 0.0
062 J000000 0.0
062 K000000 0.0
062 L000000 0.0
062 M000000 0.0
062 N000000 0.0
062 O000000 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 14
062 P000000 0.0
062 Q000000 0.0
062 R000000 0.0
063 A000000 0
063 B000000 0.0
066 A000000 Y
066 B000000 N
066 C000000 N
066 D000000 Y
066 E000000 N
066 F000000 N
066 G000000 N
067 000000 N
068 A000000 N
068 B000000 N
069 000000 N
070 A010000 N
070 A020000 N
070 B010000 N
070 B020000 N
070 C010000 N
070 C020000 N
070 D010000 N
070 D020000 N
070 E010000 N
070 E020000 N
070 F010000 N
070 F020000 N
070 G010000 N
070 G020000 N
070 H010000 N
070 H020000 N
070 I010000 N
070 I020000 N
070 J010000 Y
070 J020000 Y
070 K010000 Y
070 K020000 N
070 L010000 Y
070 L020000 Y
070 M010000 Y
070 M020000 Y
070 N010000 N
070 N020000 N
070 O010000 N
070 O020000 N
070 P010000 Y
070 P020000 Y
070 Q010000 N
070 Q020000 N
070 R010000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 15
070 R020000 N
071 A000000 4937026
071 B000000 4391342
071 C000000 11305242
071 D000000 39
072 A000000 12
072 B000000 90685
072 C000000 61020
072 D000000 0
072 E000000 0
072 F000000 45511
072 G000000 0
072 H000000 0
072 I000000 10116
072 J000000 236
072 K000000 1980
072 L000000 355
072 M000000 137
072 N000000 530
072 O000000 0
072 P000000 0
072 Q000000 0
072 R000000 43
072 S000000 12
072 T000000 31284
072 U000000 0
072 V000000 0
072 W000000 113
072 X000000 90317
072 Y000000 0
072 Z000000 61388
072AA000000 1530218
072BB000000 0
072CC010000 0
072CC020000 1640385
072DD010000 75837
072DD020000 0
072EE000000 1201719
073 A010000 0.1300
073 A020000 0.0000
073 B000000 2.0600
073 C000000 0.0000
074 A000000 281
074 B000000 0
074 C000000 1425297
074 D000000 418019
074 E000000 9970069
074 F000000 0
074 G000000 0
074 H000000 0
074 I000000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 16
074 J000000 35235
074 K000000 0
074 L000000 26092
074 M000000 0
074 N000000 11874993
074 O000000 35373
074 P000000 4009
074 Q000000 0
074 R010000 0
074 R020000 0
074 R030000 0
074 R040000 37167
074 S000000 0
074 T000000 11798444
074 U010000 65737211
074 U020000 0
074 V010000 17.95
074 V020000 0.00
074 W000000 0.0000
074 X000000 683755
074 Y000000 0
075 A000000 0
075 B000000 12895225
076 000000 0.00
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
078 000000 N
080 A000000 NATIONAL UNION FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
080 B000000 CHUBB CUSTOM INSURANCE 2)ICI MUTUAL INSURANCE
080 C000000 65000
081 A000000 Y
081 B000000 59
082 A000000 N
082 B000000 0
083 A000000 N
083 B000000 0
084 A000000 N
084 B000000 0
085 A000000 Y
085 B000000 N
086 A010000 0
086 A020000 0
086 B010000 0
086 B020000 0
086 C010000 0
086 C020000 0
086 D010000 0
086 D020000 0
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 17
086 F020000 0
049 002600 N
050 002600 N
051 002600 N
052 002600 N
053 A002600 N
SIGNATURE JULIE F. WILLIAMS
TITLE SECRETARY
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1998
<PERIOD-START> SEP-1-1997
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 9,446,513
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 11,813,385
<RECEIVABLES> 61,327
<ASSETS-OTHER> 281
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 11,874,993
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 35,373
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 41,176
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 76,549
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 8,016,466
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 657,372,110
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 578,153,047
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 37,030
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 1,312,332
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 2,366,879
<NET-ASSETS> 11,798,444
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 61,020
<INTEREST-INCOME> 90,685
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 90,317
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 61,388
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,530,218
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (1,640,385)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (48,779)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 75,837
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 1,201,719
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 109,029,348
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 96,539,758
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 66,729,473
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 1,478,426
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 51,497
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 983,815
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 45,511
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 90,317
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 12,895,225
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 20.14
<PER-SHARE-NII> .1
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.1)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.13)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (2.06)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 17.95
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .007
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
The Growth Fund of America:
In planning and performing our audit of the financial
statements of Growth Fund of America, Inc., (the "Fund") for
the year ended August 31, 1998 (on which we have issued our
report dated September 30, 1998), we considered its internal
control, including control activities for safeguarding
securities, in order to determine our auditing procedures for
the purpose of expressing our opinion on the financial
statements and to comply with the requirements of Form N-SAR,
and not to provide assurance on the Fund's internal control.
The management of the Fund is responsible for establishing and
maintaining internal control. In fulfilling this
responsibility, estimates and judgments by management are
required to assess the expected benefits and related costs of
controls. Generally, controls that are relevant to an audit
pertain to the entity's objective of preparing financial
statements for external purposes that are fairly presented in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
Those controls include the safeguarding of assets against
unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition.
Because of inherent limitations in any internal control,
errors or fraud may occur and may not be detected. Also,
projection of any evaluation of internal control to future
periods is subject to the risk that it may become inadequate
because of changes in conditions or that the effectiveness of
the design and operation may deteriorate.
Our consideration of the Fund's internal control would not
necessarily disclose all matters in internal control that
might be material weaknesses under standards established by
the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A
material weakness is a condition in which the design or
operation of one or more of the internal control components
does not reduce to a relatively low level the risk that errors
or fraud in amounts that would be material in relation to the
financial statements being audited may occur and not be
detected within a timely period by employees in the normal
course of performing their assigned functions. However, we
noted no matters involving the Fund's internal control and its
operation, including controls for safeguarding securities,
that we consider to be material weaknesses as defined above as
of August 31, 1998.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of
management, the Board of Directors of Growth Fund of America,
Inc., and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Los Angeles, California
September 30, 1998