Logo - American Funds (R)

                           American Mutual Fund, Inc.
              333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California 90071
                  Telephone (213) 486 9200 Fax (213) 486- 9455

                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


JAMES K. DUNTON, Chairman and PEO, and JEFFREY P. REGAL, Treasurer of American
Mutual Fund, Inc., (the "Registrant"), each certify to the best of his
knowledge that:

1)   The  Registrant's  periodic report on Form N-CSR for the period ended April
     30, 2004 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the requirements of Section
     13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

2)   The  information  contained  in the  Form  N-CSR  fairly  presents,  in all
     material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
     Registrant.


Chief Executive Officer                           Chief Financial Officer

AMERICAN MUTUAL FUND, INC.                        AMERICAN MUTUAL FUND, INC.

/s/ James K. Dunton                                /s/ Jeffrey P. Regal
- ----------------------------                      -----------------------------
James K. Dunton, Chairman                         Jeffrey P. Regal, Treasurer

Date: July 8, 2004                                Date:  July 8, 2004


A signed  original  of this  written  statement  required  by Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002 has been provided to AMERICAN  MUTUAL FUND, INC. and
will be retained by AMERICAN  MUTUAL FUND,  INC. and furnished to the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") or its staff upon request.


This  certification  is being furnished to the Commission  solely pursuant to 18
U.S.C.  Section 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Form N-CSR filed with
the Commission.