WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001064641
<NAME> THE SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 003
<NAME> THE CONSUMER STAPLES SELECT SECTOR SPDR TRUST
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 0
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 157004330
<RECEIVABLES> 308969
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 36618
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 157349917
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1071
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 955251
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 956322
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 160338071
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 6250044
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 37904
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (6092257)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 2109877
<NET-ASSETS> 156393595
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 3516201
<INTEREST-INCOME> 0
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 911488
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2604713
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (8819744)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 20697328
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 14482297
<EQUALIZATION> (97717)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (2545898)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 12500000
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (11450000)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 29
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 0
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 217423714
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 22.63
<PER-SHARE-NII> .30
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.39
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.02)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.28)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 25.02
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .42
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>