<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000702435
<NAME> THE FLEX-FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 008
<NAME> THE TOTAL RETURN UTILITIES FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 13,422,140
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 14,667,468
<RECEIVABLES> 301,464
<ASSETS-OTHER> 27,777
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 14,996,709
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 250,875
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 250,875
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 11,707,684
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 694,624
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 683,005
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 7,519
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 1,800,341
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 1,245,328
<NET-ASSETS> 14,745,834
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 202,642
<INTEREST-INCOME> 9,526
<OTHER-INCOME> (94,108)
<EXPENSES-NET> 33,739
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 84,321
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,016,305
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (406,360)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 694,266
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 91,825
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 201,917
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 193,816
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 3,518
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 852,498
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2,355,173
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 2,345,762
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 15
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 42,865
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 14,070,112
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 20.34
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.13
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.90
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.14
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 21.23
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.80
<FN>
<F1>
</FN>
</TABLE>
