<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF AMERICAN GROWTH FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        4,477,900
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       4,466,500
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 591,300
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,057,800
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       21,300
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             21,300
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     5,141,300
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        1,265,100
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        1,265,100
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                     (111,100)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                         45,600
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                       (52,000)
<NET-ASSETS>                                 5,036,500  
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              187,200
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 359,900   
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                       (110,800)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         1,000
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      (33,700)    
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                         (143,500)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                              0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                          0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                        (143,500)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                         (6,300)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                       44,700
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                           47,400
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                359,900
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         5,108,250
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             4.09
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   (.09)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           (.03)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               3.98
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .07
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                          27,250
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                               .02
        

</TABLE>