INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

American Balanced Fund, Inc.:

We consent to (a) the use in this Post-Effective Amendment No. 92 to
Registration Statement No. 2-10758 on Form N-1A of our report dated February 5,
2003 appearing in the Financial Statements which are included in Part B, the
Statement of Additional Information of such Registration Statement, (b) the
references to us under the heading "General Information" in such Statement of
Additional Information and (c) the reference to us under the heading "Financial
Highlights" in the Prospectus, which is a part of such Registration Statement.



DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Los Angeles, California
February 24, 2003