WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 07
<NAME> NEW PERSPECTIVE FUND - CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 25,155,074
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 33,613,802
<RECEIVABLES> 223,131
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3,238
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 33,840,171
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 113,926
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 54,625
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 168,551
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 21,288,298
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1,165,670,540
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1,139,193,380
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 315,556
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 3,610,073
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 8,457,693
<NET-ASSETS> 33,671,620
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 321,769
<INTEREST-INCOME> 265,124
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 259,165
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 327,728
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 4,202,874
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 279,532
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 4,810,134
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 109,901
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 2,337,892
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 220,816,130
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 121,160,972
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 85,115,039
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 7,919,338
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 108,492
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 1,875,244
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 130,767
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 259,165
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 32,702,188
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 26.25
<PER-SHARE-NII> .30
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 4.56
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .11
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 2.34
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 28.66
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .007
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
