WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000745968
<NAME> Federated Income Securities Trust
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 011
<NAME> Federated Short Term Income Fund - Institutional Shares
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Apr-30-2001
<PERIOD-END> Oct-31-2000
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<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 21,592,687
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<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (280,390)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (20,022,507)
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<EQUALIZATION> 0
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (3,659,520)
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<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (8,446,871)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
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[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0.00
</TABLE>
