EX-99.J OTHER OPININ 7 consent.txt CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form N-1A of our report dated January 31, 2002, relating to the financial statements and per-share data and ratios of The Investment Company of America, which appears in such Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to us under the headings "Financial Highlights", "Independent Accountants" and "Prospectuses, Reports to Shareholders and Proxy Statements" in such Registration Statement. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Los Angeles, California May 9, 2002