<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000801421
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH INTERMEDIATE GOVERNMENT BOND FUND
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 004
<NAME> CLASS D
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 78892730
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 76927411
<RECEIVABLES> 1038459
<ASSETS-OTHER> 42246
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 78008116
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 978266
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 407003
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1385269
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 91346978
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2627897
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 3104926
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (12758812)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (1965319)
<NET-ASSETS> 24210281
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2917850
<OTHER-INCOME> 2727
<EXPENSES-NET> (455286)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2465291
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (2044182)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 359177
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 780286
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (783509)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 111696
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (645360)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 56635
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (16284161)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (10714630)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 166453
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 455286
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 26031422
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.39
<PER-SHARE-NII> .28
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.18)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.28)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.21
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .96
</TABLE>
