WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000803191
<NAME> PRUDENTIAL EQUITY INCOME FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 001
<NAME> EQUITY INCOME FUND (CLASS A)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Oct-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,222,256,615
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,439,868,202
<RECEIVABLES> 94,484,997
<ASSETS-OTHER> 165,080
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 0
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 15,037,014
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 63,457,330
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 0
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,146,031,145
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 78,957,585
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 90,169,601
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 3,948,546
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 88,432,657
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 217,611,587
<NET-ASSETS> (169,127,186)
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 43,252,730
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2,127,236
<OTHER-INCOME> 407,849
<EXPENSES-NET> 23,351,929
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 22,435,886
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 125,879,403
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 77,605,314
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 225,920,603
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (18,649,224)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (210,358,638)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 390,599,191
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (941,250,989)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 213,734,690
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (340,004,367)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2,164,778
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 111,051,315
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 7,960,211
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 24,905
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 23,351,929
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 571,048,000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 18.12
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.31
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.49
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.25)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (2.18)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 18.49
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.16
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0.00
</TABLE>
