<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000066117
<NAME> COUNTRYWIDE INVESTMENT TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> SHORT TERM GOVERNMENT INCOME FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 144,644,801
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 144,644,801
<RECEIVABLES> 469,838
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 224,949
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 145,339,588
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 118,116
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 118,116
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 145,221,472
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 145,221,473
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 110,059,933
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
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<NET-ASSETS> 145,221,472
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3,199,690
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 558,168
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,641,522
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2,641,522
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 2,641,522
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 395,808,169
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 363,192,256
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 2,545,627
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 35,161,539
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 276,888
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 558,168
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 117,357,848
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 1.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> .022
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .022
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 1.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .95
</TABLE>