WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 222
<NAME> THE AMERICAN FUNDS INCOME SERIES - CLASS B
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,089,236
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,086,744
<RECEIVABLES> 22,735
<ASSETS-OTHER> 117
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,109,596
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 18,807
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 5,116
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 23,923
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 0
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 104,642,524
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 4,993
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (2,492)
<NET-ASSETS> 1,085,673
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 82,103
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 10,001
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 72,102
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (34,097)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 4,254
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 76,356
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 35
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 3,582
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 597
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 24
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (236,046)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 1,176
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (72,469)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 4,622
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 10,001
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 12.49
<PER-SHARE-NII> .5
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .07
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .3
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 12.76
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .015
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
