NEW ECONOMY FUND Class A Class 529-A Class C Class 529-C Class 529-E Class 529-T Class T Class F-1 Class 529-F-1 Class F-2 Class F-3 Class 529-F-2 Class 529-F-3 Class R-1 Class R-2 Class R-3 Class R-4 Class R-5 Class R-6 Class R-2E Class R-5E Market conditions [Member] Issuer risks [Member] Investing in growth-oriented stocks [Member] Investing in income-oriented stocks [Member] Investing outside the United States [Member] Investing in emerging markets [Member] Investing in small companies [Member] Exposure to country, region, industry or sector [Member] Management [Member] MSCI® All Country World Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes) S&P 500 Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes) S000009598 Member C000026238 Member C000026246 Member C000026236 Member C000026248 Member C000077861 Member Investing In Small Companies Member Market Conditions Member Investing In Emerging Markets Member C000026243 Member Investing In Incomeoriented Stocks Member Investing In Growthoriented Stocks Member C000026235 Member index_ SP_500_ Index_reflects_no_deductions_for_sales_charges_account_fees_expenses_or_ US_federal_income_taxes Member index_ MSCI_ All_ Country_ World_ Index_reflects_no_deductions_for_sales_charges_account_fees_expenses_or_ US_federal_income_taxes Member C000026237 Member C000164821 Member Issuer Risks Member C000026240 Member C000189497 Member C000068559 Member C000224596 Member C000148459 Member Exposure To Country Region Industry Or Sector Member C000026242 Member C000179981 Member C000026247 Member ManagementMember C000026244 Member Investing Outside The United States Member C000224595 Member C000026239 Member C000189496 Member