There are disclosed a catalyst and a process for production of acrylic acid using this catalyst, wherein, even under conditions where hot spots are formed, the catalyst is excellent in activity, selectivity, and catalyst life time and displays stable performances for a long time. The catalyst is shown by the following formula (1): MoaVbWcCudAeBfCgOx (1) (wherein: A is at least one species selected from among cobalt, nickel, iron, lead, and bismuth; B is at least one species selected from among antimony, niobium, and tin; and C is at least one species selected from among silicon, aluminum, titanium, and zirconium; and further, a, b, c, d, e, f, g, and x are atomic ratios of Mo, V, W, Cu, A, B, C, and O respectively; and, in the case of a=12, the following inequalities are satisfied: 2<=b<=15; 0 B01J 23 / 88 B01J 23 / 28 C07C 57 / 04 C07C 51 / 25 0 17 2 2004 / 2 / 27 1524615 2004 / 9 / 1 100382889 2008 / 4 / 23 2008 / 4 / 23 2008 / 4 / 23 Nippon Catalytic Chem Ind Japan Hirao Harunori Tanimoto Michio chen cuan 11038 The Patent Agency of the Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) No.1 Waidajie, Fuxingmen, Beijing 100086 Japan 2003 / 2 / 27 051794 / 2003