<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000787980
<NAME> STATE STREET RESEARCH INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 01
<NAME> STATE STREET RESEARCH HIGH INCOME FUND CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,024,505,455
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 864,226,826
<RECEIVABLES> 33,631,171
<ASSETS-OTHER> 67,825
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 897,925,822
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 11,671,313
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 46,497,941
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 58,169,254
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,052,334,901
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 99,227,088
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 114,689,932
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1,501,659
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 53,801,363
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (160,278,629)
<NET-ASSETS> 839,756,568
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 11,095,050
<INTEREST-INCOME> 94,357,264
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 13,577,385
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 91,874,929
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (38,721,659)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (69,370,508)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (16,217,238)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (56,225,697)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (57,728)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 15,101,807
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (37,383,845)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 6,819,194
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (246,339,402)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2,674,214
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 15,777,024
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 5,695,524
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 13,640,525
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 993,021,134
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 5.65
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.52
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.60)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.52)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 5.05
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.12
</TABLE>
