<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> 12152705
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 13804393
<RECEIVABLES> 309222
<ASSETS-OTHER> 21453
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 14135068
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 241732
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 241732
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 11457627
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 683005
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 549849
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 15
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 784036
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 1651688
<NET-ASSETS> 13893336
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 348140
<INTEREST-INCOME> 23391
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 204058
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 167473
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 2604826
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (862,933)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1909366
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 167473
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 1461849
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 331544
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 275164
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 76776
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 3438686
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 15
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 358941
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 226218
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 11351032
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 19.01
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.30
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 3.45
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.30
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 2.12
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 20.34
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.80
<FN>
<F1>
</FN>
</TABLE>
