PRUDENTIAL EQUITY INCOME FUND
NSAR-B, 1998-01-05
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<PAGE>      PAGE  1
000 B000000 10/31/97
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<PAGE>      PAGE  5
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<PAGE>      PAGE  6
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<PAGE>      PAGE  7
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SIGNATURE   STEPHEN M. UNGERMAN                          
TITLE       ASST. TREASURER     
 


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<NAME> PRUDENTIAL EQUITY INCOME FUND, INC.
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   <NAME> EQUITY INCOME FUND (CLASS A)
       
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<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000803191
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL EQUITY INCOME FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 002
   <NAME> EQUITY INCOME FUND (CLASS B)
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                    1,378,147,318
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                   1,884,656,601
<RECEIVABLES>                               59,603,129
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 641,362
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       0
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                    26,329,106
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    5,342,938
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                  0
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                 1,231,262,242
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       91,296,710
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       86,004,429
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                     (564,897)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                    176,230,283
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                   506,301,420
<NET-ASSETS>                              (177,301,139)
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                           46,963,677
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            5,447,044
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                              23,040,355
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     29,370,366
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                   184,439,985
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  363,934,627
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                      577,744,978
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                   (63,174,275)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                      (29,828,289)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                    699,979,865
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>               (681,144,020)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                         84,965,746
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                     588,544,005
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                      3,375,392
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                   60,320,527
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        8,306,148
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                             23,040,355
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                     1,072,118,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            15.39
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   6.58
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.00
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                        (1.04)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                              0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              20.93
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.69
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                              0.00
        


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>











<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000803191
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL EQUITY INCOME FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 003
   <NAME> EQUITY INCOME FUND (CLASS C)
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                    1,378,147,318
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                   1,884,656,601
<RECEIVABLES>                               59,603,129
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 641,362
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       0
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                    26,329,106
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    5,342,938
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                  0
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                 1,231,262,242
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       91,296,710
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       86,004,429
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                     (564,897)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                    176,230,283
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                   506,301,420
<NET-ASSETS>                              (177,301,139)
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                           46,963,677
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            5,447,044
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                              23,040,355
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     29,370,366
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                   184,439,985
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  363,934,627
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                      577,744,978
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                   (63,174,275)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                      (29,828,289)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                    699,979,865
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>               (681,144,020)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                         84,965,746
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                     588,544,005
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                      3,375,392
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                   60,320,527
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        8,306,148
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                             23,040,355
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        11,432,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            15.39
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   6.58
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.00
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                        (1.04)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                              0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              20.93
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.69
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                              0.00
        


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>











<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000803191
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL EQUITY INCOME FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 004
   <NAME> EQUITY INCOME FUND (CLASS Z)
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                    1,378,147,318
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                   1,884,656,601
<RECEIVABLES>                               59,603,129
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 641,362
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       0
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                    26,329,106
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    5,342,938
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                  0
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                 1,231,262,242
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       91,296,710
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       86,004,429
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                     (564,897)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                    176,230,283
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                   506,301,420
<NET-ASSETS>                              (177,301,139)
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                           46,963,677
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            5,447,044
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                              23,040,355
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     29,370,366
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                   184,439,985
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  363,934,627
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                      577,744,978
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                   (63,174,275)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                      (29,828,289)
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                    699,979,865
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>               (681,144,020)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                         84,965,746
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                     588,544,005
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                      3,375,392
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                   60,320,527
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        8,306,148
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                             23,040,355
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        57,369,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            15.42
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   6.79
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.00
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                        (1.21)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                              0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              21.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.69
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                              0.00
        
















</TABLE>

For the fiscal year ended 10/31/97
File number : 811-4864

                          SUB-ITEM 77 D
                                
                                
               Policies with Respect to Securities
                           Investments
                                
     A)         On February 19, 1997 the
     Trustees   approved  a  change   in
     investment  policy  permitting  the
     Fund  to hold up to 15% of its  net
     assets   in  repurchase  agreements
     which  have  a maturity  of  longer
     than  7  days or in other  illiquid
     securities.

     B)   On October 24, 1997 the
Trustees approved a change in investment
policies of the
            Fund to expand the
definition of equity related securities
to include common stocks,
            preferred stocks, rights,
warrants and debt securities or
preferred stocks which are
            convertible or exchangeable
for common stocks or preferred stocks
and master limited
            partnerships, among others.


























C:\-word\n-sar\eif\12-97\12-97.77d




For  the  annual period ended  October
31, 1997
File number: 811-4864

                         SUB-ITEM 77 0

                            EXHIBITS

          Transactions Effected Pursuant to Rule 10f-3

1.   Name of Issuer
       Equity Office properties

2.   Date of Purchase
       7/7/97

3.   Number of Securities Purchased
       137,500

4.   Dollar Amount of Purchase
       $2,887,500

5.   Price Per Unit
       $21.00

6.     Name(s)  of  Underwriter(s)  or
Dealer(s)
     From whom Purchased
       Merrill Lynch

7.   Other Members of the Underwriting
Syndicate
     
       Lehman Brothers Inc.
            Prudential      Securities
Incorporated
       Montgomery Securities
        Donaldson, Lufkin  &  Jenrette
Securities Corporation
       Smith Barney Inc.
       Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
       Oppenheimer & Co.
       William Blair & Co.
       Furman Selz Inc.
       Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc.
        McDonald & Company Securities,
Inc.
       Piper Jaffray
       Rauscher Pierce Refsnes, Inc.
       Bear, Sterns and Company, Inc.
       PaineWebber Incorporated
        Deutsche  Morgan Grenfell/C.J.
Lawerence Inc.
       Fahnestock and Co. Inc.
        The Robertson-Humphrey Company
Inc.
       Salomon Brothers Inc.
       Sutro & Co. Inc.
       Goldman Sachs & Co.
       ABN AMRO Chicago
       Alex, Brown & Sons, Inc.
       Chase Securities, Inc.
       Citicorp Securities, Inc.
         Credit  Suisse  First  Boston
Corp.
       Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, Inc.
       A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
        Sanford  C. Bernstein  &  Co.,
Inc.
       William Blair & Company
       J.C. Bradford & Co.
       Neuberger & Berman
       Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
       Stephens, Inc.
       Blaylock & Partners, LP
       First of Michigan Corp.
       WR Lazard, Laidlaw, Inc.
       NatCity Investments, Inc.
       Roney & Co., Inc.
       Samuel A. Ramirez & Co., Inc.
       Muriel Sievert & Co.
       Stifel, Nicolas & Company
       Sturdivant & Co.
     

c:\-word\n-sar\eif\12-97\12-97.77O


                                      - 2 -











Board of Directors or Trustees of:


Prudential Adjustable Rate       Pruden
Securities Fund*                 tial
Prudential Allocation Fund (2    High
Portfolios)                      Yield
The BlackRock Government Income  Fund
Trust                            Pruden
Global Utility Fund              tial
Nicholas-Applegate Fund          Income
Prudential California Municipal  Vertib
Fund (2 Portfolios)              le
Prudential Distressed            Fund*
Securities Fund                  Pruden
Prudential Diversified Bond      tial
Fund                             Interm
Prudential Equity Fund           ediate
Prudential Equity Income Fund    Global
Prudential Global Genesis Fund   Income
Prudential Global Limited        Fund
Maturity Fund                    Pruden
Prudential Global Natural        tial
Resources Fund                   Jennis
The Global Government Plus Fund  on
The                              Fund
Global                           Pruden
Total                            tial
Return                           MoneyM
Fund                             art
Pruden                           Assets
tial                             Pruden
Govern                           tial
ment                             Mortga
Income                           ge
Fund                             Income
Pruden                           Fund
 tial                            Pruden
 Gover                           tial
 nment                           Multi-
 Secur                           Sector
 ities                           Fund
 Trust                           Pruden
 -                               tial
 Money                           Munici
 Marke                           pal
 t                               Bond
 Serie                           Fund
 s                               (3
                                 Portfo
                                 lios)
                                 Pruden
                                 tial
                                 Munici
                                 pal
                                 Series
                                 Fund
                                 (10
                                 curren
                                 t
                                 
                                 Portfo
                                 lios
                                 and 3
                                 merged
                                 Portfo
                                 lios*)
                                 Pruden
                                 tial
                                 Nation
                                 al
                                 Munici
                                 pals
                                 Fund
                                 Pruden
                                 tial
                                 Pacifi
                                 c
                                 Growth
                                 Fund
                                 Pruden
                                 tial
                                 Small
                                 Compan
                                 ies
                                 Fund
                                 Pruden
                                 tial
                                 Struct
                                 ured
                                 Maturi
                                 ty
                                 Fund
                                 Pruden
                                 tial
                                 U.S.
                                 Govern
                                 ment
                                 Fund*
                                 Pruden
                                 tial
                                 Utilit
                                 y Fund
                                 Pruden
                                 tial
                                 World
                                 Fund
                                 
*  As of June 30, 1996, the Fund/Portfolio was no
 longer in operation.  The Fund/Portfolio merged into
 another Fund within the Prudential Mutual Fund
 Family.
 
We have examined the accompanying description of the
Prudential Multiple Class Pricing Worksheet (the
"Worksheet") application of State Street Bank and Trust
Company ("State Street"), custodian and recordkeeper
for the Prudential Mutual Funds (the "Funds").  Our
examination included procedures to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether (1) the accompanying
description presents fairly, in all material respects,
the aspects of State Street's policies and procedures
that may be relevant to a Fund's internal control
structure relating to the Worksheet, (2) the control
structure policies and procedures included in the
description were suitably designed to achieve the
control objectives specified in the description, if
those policies and procedures were complied with
satisfactorily, and (3) such policies and procedures
had been placed in operation as of June 30, 1996.  The
control objectives were specified by Prudential Mutual
Fund Management, Inc.  Our examination was performed in
accordance with standards established by the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and included
those procedures we considered necessary in the
circumstances to obtain a reasonable basis for
rendering our opinion.

In our opinion, the accompanying description of the
aforementioned application presents fairly, in all
material respects, the relevant aspects of State
Street's policies and procedures that had been placed
in operation as of June 30, 1996.  Also, in our
opinion, the policies and procedures, as described, are
suitably designed to provide reasonable assurance that
the specified control objectives would be achieved if
the described policies and procedures were complied
with satisfactorily.

In addition to the procedures we considered necessary
to render our opinion as expressed in the previous
paragraph, we applied tests to specific policies and
procedures, listed in Section I, to obtain evidence
about their effectiveness in meeting the control
objectives, described in Section I during the period
from July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1996.  The nature,
timing, extent, and results of the tests are listed in
Section II.  In our opinion the policies and procedures
that were tested, as described in Section II, were
operating with sufficient effectiveness to provide
reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that the
control objectives specified in Section I were achieved
during the period from July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1996.
However, the scope of our engagement did not include
tests to determine whether control objectives not
listed  in Section I were achieved; accordingly we
express no opinion on the achievement of control
objectives not included in Section I.

The relative effectiveness and significance of specific
policies and procedures at State Street, and their
effect on assessments of control risk on the Funds are
dependent on their interaction with the policies,
procedures, and other factors present at individual
Funds.  We have performed no procedures to evaluate the
effectiveness of policies and procedures at individual
Funds in connection with this report.

The description of policies and procedures at State
Street is as of June 30, 1996, and information about
tests of the operating effectiveness of specified
policies and procedures covers the period from July 1,
1995 to June 30, 1996.  Any projection of such
information to the future is subject to the risk that,
because of change, the description may no longer
portray the system in existence.  The potential
effectiveness of specified policies and procedures at
State Street is subject to inherent limitations and,
accordingly, errors or irregularities may occur and not
be detected.  Furthermore, the projection of any
conclusions, based on our findings, to future periods
is subject to the risk that changes may alter the
validity of such conclusions.

This report is intended solely for use by the
management and Boards of Directors/Trustees of the
Funds, the independent auditors of the Funds and the
Securities and Exchange Commission.











                                    SECTION I

                   Policies and Procedures Placed in Operation
                   Prudential Multiple Class Pricing Worksheet
                                        
                                        
The Prudential Mutual Funds (the "Funds") have adopted
a multiple class pricing system.  The multiple class
pricing system consists of four classes of shares
(Class A, Class B, Class C and Class Z).  Class A
shares are subject to an initial sales charge, Class B
and Class C shares are subject to a contingent deferred
sales charge and Class Z shares have no sales charge
(Class Z shares which were first offered on March 1,
1996, are offered exclusively for sale to the PSI
Pension Plan).  Each of the classes of shares represent
interests in the same portfolio of investments of the
respective Fund and are identical in all respects,
except that each class is subject to different
distribution expenses and has exclusive voting rights
with respect to the Rule 12b-1 distribution plan
pursuant to which such distribution expenses are paid.

In order to allocate income and expenses among the
classes of shares, State Street Bank and Trust Company
(the Funds' custodian and recordkeeper) utilizes the
Prudential Multiple Class Pricing Worksheet (the
"Worksheet") (see Exhibit I).  The Worksheet is a
manual supplementary application that extracts relevant
data from the Funds' primary accounting system,
allocates income and expenses among the classes of
shares and computes the daily net asset value and, if
applicable, the dividend/distribution for each class of
shares.  Internal accounting controls that are relevant
to the Fund can be divided into two components -
controls related to the mutual fund accounting system
resident at State Street Bank and Trust Company (the
"primary accounting system") and controls related to
the Worksheet.

The specific control objectives and policies and
procedures relating to the Worksheet are described on
pages 4 and 5.  A description of the tests of the
policies and procedures designed to obtain evidence
about the operating effectiveness of those policies and
procedures in achieving the specific control objectives
is included in Section II.

                 Control Objectives and Policies and Procedures
                   Prudential Multiple Class Pricing Worksheet


The Worksheet is a supplementary manual application to
the Funds' primary accounting system.  Certain data is
extracted from the primary accounting system to
allocate income and expenses and to calculate the daily
net asset value and, if applicable,
dividends/distributions for each class of shares.  The
primary accounting system includes the details of
transactions in accordance with the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended.

The following represents the internal accounting
control objectives and policies and procedures for the
allocation of income and expenses and the computation
of the net asset value and, if applicable, the
dividend/distribution for each class of shares
utilizing the Worksheet.  It does not cover the
internal accounting control policies and procedures
surrounding the processing of information into the
Funds' primary accounting system.

                                               CONTROL
       CONTROL OBJECTIVES                     POLICIES
                                                 AND
                                              PROCEDUR
                                                 ES
                                                  
A. Capital share activity as         1. Daily
reported by the Fund's transfer      , the
agent is recorded for each class     trans
in an accurate and timely manner     fer
by the Fund.                         agent
                                     forwa
                                     rds
                                     repor
                                     ts of
                                     capit
                                     al
                                     share
                                     activ
                                     ity
                                     for
                                     each
                                     class
                                     which
                                     inclu
                                     des a
                                     summa
                                     ry of
                                     subsc
                                     ripti
                                     ons,
                                     redem
                                     ption
                                     s,
                                     excha
                                     nges
                                     and
                                     other
                                     infor
                                     matio
                                     n
                                     (the
                                     "Supe
                                     rshee
                                     t").
                                     The
                                     openi
                                     ng
                                     day's
                                     balan
                                     ce
                                     for
                                     share
                                     s
                                     outst
                                     andin
                                     g and
                                     curre
                                     nt
                                     day
                                     activ
                                     ity
                                     is
                                     recor
                                     ded
                                     on
                                     the
                                     Works
                                     heet.
                                     
                                  2. Estim
                                     ated
                                     inter
                                     im
                                     share
                                     activ
                                     ity
                                     for
                                     the
                                     curre
                                     nt
                                     day
                                     not
                                     recor
                                     ded
                                     in
                                     the
                                     Super
                                     sheet
                                     is
                                     recei
                                     ved
                                     via
                                     telef
                                     ax
                                     from
                                     the
                                     trans
                                     fer
                                     agent
                                     and
                                     is
                                     recor
                                     ded
                                     for
                                     each
                                     class
                                     on
                                     the
                                     Works
                                     heet.
                                     
                                  3. A
                                     repor
                                     t of
                                     outst
                                     andin
                                     g
                                     share
                                     s
                                     eligi
                                     ble
                                     for
                                     divid
                                     ends
                                     is
                                     recei
                                     ved
                                     from
                                     the
                                     trans
                                     fer
                                     agent
                                     and
                                     is
                                     recor
                                     ded
                                     for
                                     each
                                     class
                                     on
                                     the
                                     Works
                                     heet.
                                     
B. Net Asset Value ("NAV") and, if   1. The prior days ending NAV per
applicable, the                   share (b) for each class is
dividend/distribution for each    agreed to the prior day's
class are accurately computed on  Worksheet.
a daily basis.                    
                                  2. The daily net capital stock
                                  activity for each class for the
                                  current day is agreed to the
                                  Supersheet as described in
                                  Control Procedures A.1., 2. and
                                  3., above.
                                  
                                     3. Percentage Assets by Class and
                                  Percentage Dividend Assets by
                                  Class are calculated for each
                                  class based upon information from
                                  the prior day Worksheet, the
                                  Supersheet and the telefax from
                                  the transfer agent.
                                  

                                               CONTROL
       CONTROL OBJECTIVES                     POLICIES
                                                 AND
                                              PROCEDUR
                                                 ES
                                                  
                                     4. Allocate investment income among
                                  classes based on the appropriate
                                  asset allocation percentage for
                                  each class.
                                  
                                     5. Agree composite income accounts,
                                  management fees, other expenses,
                                  realized gains and losses, and
                                  unrealized
                                  appreciation/depreciation to the
                                  primary accounting system of the
                                  Fund.
                                  
                               6. Allocate expenses among classes
                                  as follows:
                                  
                                        a. E
                                         x
                                         p
                                         e
                                         n
                                         s
                                         e
                                         s
                                         d
                                         i
                                         r
                                         e
                                         c
                                         t
                                         l
                                         y
                                         a
                                         t
                                         t
                                         r
                                         i
                                         b
                                         u
                                         t
                                         a
                                         b
                                         l
                                         e
                                         t
                                         o
                                         e
                                         a
                                         c
                                         h
                                         c
                                         l
                                         a
                                         s
                                         s
                                         (
                                         1
                                         2
                                         b-
                                         1
                                         d
                                         i
                                         s
                                         t
                                         r
                                         i
                                         b
                                         u
                                         t
                                         i
                                         o
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                                         .
                                         
                                     7. Allocate realized and unrealized
                                  gains and losses among the
                                  classes in accordance with the
                                  appropriate asset allocation
                                  percentage of each class.
                                  
                               8. Record dividends/distributions to
                                  shareholders of each class in the
                                  primary accounting system.
                                  
                               9. Aggregate the net assets for each
                                  class and agree to the total net
                                  assets per the primary accounting
                                  system.
                                  
                               10.For each class, reconcile the
                                  current day's NAV and, if
                                  applicable, the
                                  dividend/distribution to the
                                  previous day's NAV and dividend/
                                  distribution for each class.
                                  
                               11.The above procedures are reviewed
                                  by the Fund supervisor or
                                  manager.
                                  

                                   SECTION II

                        Tests of Operating Effectiveness
                   Prudential Multiple Class Pricing Worksheet
                          July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1996
                                        
                                        
We reviewed the methodology and procedures for
calculating the daily net asset value and, if
applicable, the dividends/distributions of the classes
of shares and the allocation of income and expenses
among the classes of shares.

The following are the detailed procedures which we
performed with respect to the Worksheet.  These
procedures were performed for selected days
encompassing all Funds subject to multiple class
pricing during the year ended June 30, 1996, which we
believe is a representative sample, to test compliance
with the control policies and procedures as described
in Section I.

Prudential Mutual Fund Management, Inc. is the manager
of the Funds and has represented to us that adequate
facilities are in place to ensure implementation of the
methodology and procedures for calculating the net
asset value and dividends/distributions of the classes
of shares and the allocation of income and expenses
among the classes of shares.  Based on our review of
the description of the policies and procedures of the
Worksheet, as described in Section I, and performance
of tests of operating effectiveness as described in
Section II, we concur with such representation.

   Agreed "Prior Day NAV Per Share" to the previous
   day's Worksheet.
   
   Agreed "Shares Outstanding Beginning of the Day" to
   the previous day's Worksheet and to the transfer
   agency records for each class.
   
   Recalculated "Activity/Estimate" by adding the
   estimated interim share activity reported via fax
   from the transfer agent and the current day's
   "Capital Stock Activity" reported on the Supersheet
   for each class.
   
   Recalculated "Current Shares Outstanding" by adding
   "Shares Outstanding Beginning of the Day" and
   "Activity/Estimate" for each class.
   
   Recalculated for each class "Adjusted Total Assets"
   by multiplying "Prior Day NAV Per Share" by
   "Current Shares Outstanding".
   
   Recalculated "Percentage Assets-Class A/Front End"
   by dividing "Adjusted Total Assets-Class A/Front
   End" by "Adjusted Total Assets Composite".
   
   Recalculated "Percentage Assets-Class B(C)/Back
   End" by dividing "Adjusted Total Assets-Class
   B(C)/Back End" by "Adjusted Total Assets
   Composite".
   
   Recalculated "Percentage Assets-Class Z/No Fee"
   where applicable, by dividing "Adjusted Total
   Assets-Class Z/No Fee" by "Adjusted Total Assets
   Composite".
   
   Agreed "Dividend Shares" to the transfer agency
   records for each class.
   
   Recalculated "Current Dividend Shares" by adding
   "Dividend Shares Beginning of Day" and
   "Activity/Estimate" for each class.
   
   Recalculated for each class "Adjusted Dividend
   Assets" by multiplying "Prior Day NAV Per Share" by
   "Current Dividend Shares".
   
   Recalculated "Percentage Dividend Assets-Class
   A/Front End" by dividing "Adjusted Dividend Assets-
   Class A/Front End" by "Adjusted Dividend Assets
   Composite".
   
   Recalculated "Percentage Dividend Assets-Class
   B(C)/Back End" by dividing "Adjusted Dividend
   Assets-Class B(C)/Back End" by "Adjusted Dividend
   Assets Composite".
   
   Recalculated "Percentage Dividend Assets-Class Z/No
   Fee" where applicable, by dividing "Adjusted
   Dividend Assets-Class Z" by "Adjusted Dividend
   Assets Composite".
   
   Agreed composite total of each component of income
   to the primary accounting system.
   
   Recalculated the allocation for each class of each
   component of income for daily dividend funds by
   multiplying the composite total by "Percentage
   Dividend Assets-Class A/Front End", "Percentage
   Dividend Assets-Class B(C)/Back End" and where
   applicable, "percentage Dividend Assets-Class Z/No
   Fee", and for non-daily dividend funds by
   multiplying the composite total by "Percentage
   Assets-Class A/Front End", "Percentage Assets-Class
   B(C)/Back End" and where applicable, "Percentage
   Assets-Class Z/No Fee".
   
   Recalculated "Daily Income," composite and for each
   class, by totaling each component of income.
   
   Agreed composite total "Management Fee" and "Other
   Fixed Expenses" to the primary accounting system.
   
   Recalculated the allocation for each class of
   "Management Fee" and "Other Fixed Expenses" for
   daily dividend funds by multiplying the composite
   total by "Percentage Dividend Assets-Class A/Front
   End", "Percentage Dividend Assets-Class B(C)/Back
   End" and where applicable, "percentage Dividend
   Assets-Class Z/No Fee", and non-daily dividend
   funds by multiplying the composite total by
   "Percentage Assets-Class A/Front End", "Percentage
   Assets-Class B(C)/Back End" " and where applicable,
   "Percentage Assets-Class Z/No Fee"
   
   Agreed the "12b-1 Fee-Class A/Front End" and "12b-1
   Fee-Class B(C)/Back End" to the respective "PC
   Expense Worksheet".
   
   Recalculated "Daily Expense," composite and for
   each class, by totaling "Management Fee," "12b-1
   Fee" and "Other Fixed Expenses".
   
   Recalculated "Daily Net Income" for each class by
   subtracting "Daily Expense" from "Daily Income".
   
   Recalculated "Dividend Rate" for each class for
   daily dividend funds by dividing "Daily Net Income"
   by "Dividend Shares Beginning of Day-Class A/Front
   End", "Dividend Shares Beginning of Day-Class
   B(C)/Back End" and where applicable, "Dividend
   Shares Beginning of Day-Class Z/No Fee".
   
   Agreed "Daily Income" and "Income Distribution" for
   each class to the primary accounting system.
   
   Agreed the "Capital Gain Distribution" to the
   amount recorded in the primary accounting system.
   
   Agreed composite total "Realized Gain/Loss" and
   "Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation" to the
   primary accounting system.
   
   Recalculated the allocation for each class of
   "Realized Gain/Loss" and "Unrealized
   Appreciation/Depreciation" by multiplying the
   composite amount by the "Percentage Assets-Class
   A/Front End", "Percentage  Assets-Class B(C)/Back
   End" and where applicable, "Percentage Assets-Class
   Z/No Fee".
   
   Agreed "Prior Days Net Assets" to the previous
   day's Worksheet.
   
   Recalculated "Net Assets", composite and for each
   class, by totaling "Daily Net Income", "Income
   nDistributed", "Capital Stock Activity", "Capital
   Gain Distribution", "Realized Gain/Loss",
   "Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation", and "Prior
   Days Net Assets".
   
   Recalculated "NAV Per Share" dividing the "Net
   Assets-Class A/Front End", "Net Assets - Class
   B(C)/Back End" and where applicable, "Net Assets-
   Class Z/No Fee" by "Current Shares Outstanding -
   Class A/Front End", "Current Shares Outstanding -
   Class B(C)/Back End" and where applicable, "Current
   Shares Outstanding-Class Z/No Fee", respectively.
   
   Recalculated "Offering Price" for Class A shares by
   applying the "Load" percentage as stated in the
   fund's prospectus.
   











December 19, 1997

To the Shareholders and Board of
Trustees of
Prudential  Equity Income Fund


In planning and performing our audit of
the financial statements of Prudential
Equity Income Fund (the "Fund") for the
year ended October 31, 1997, 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, not
to provide assurance on 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 control
activities.  Generally, control
activities 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
control activities include the
safeguarding of assets against
unauthorized acquisition, use or
disposition.

Because of inherent limitations in
internal control, errors or
irregularities may occur and 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 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 any
specific internal control components
does not reduce to a relatively low
level the risk that errors or
irregularities 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
internal control, including control
activities for safeguarding securities,
that we consider to be material
weaknesses as defined above as of
October 31, 1997.

This report is intended solely for the
information and use of management and
the Board of Trustees of the Fund and
the Securities and Exchange Commission.




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