Logo - American Funds (R)

                           American High-Income Trust
              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



DAVID C.  BARCLAY,  President  and  PEO,  and SUSI M.  SILVERMAN,  Treasurer  of
American High-Income Trust, (the "Registrant"),  each certify to the best of his
or her knowledge that:

1)   The  Registrant's  periodic  report  on Form  N-CSR  for the  period  ended
     September 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.


Principal Executive Officer                 Principal Financial Officer

AMERICAN HIGH-INCOME TRUST                  AMERICAN HIGH-INCOME TRUST

/s/ David C. Barclay                        /s/ Susi M. Silverman
- ----------------------------                -----------------------------
David C. Barclay, President                 Susi M. Silverman, Treasurer

Date: December 8, 2004                      Date: December 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  HIGH-INCOME TRUST and
will be retained by AMERICAN  HIGH-INCOME  TRUST 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.