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022 A000001 BEAR, STEARNS, & CO.
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022 A000002 SALOMON BROTHERS, INC.
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022 A000003 SPEAR, LEEDS, & KELLOGG
022 B000003 135515160
022 C000003 503
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022 C000004 253
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022 C000005 911
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SIGNATURE GEORGE HANSETH
TITLE SR. VICE PRESIDENT
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
AUDITED ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COLUMBIA FUNDS DATED DECEMBER 31, 1996, AND
THE AUDITED ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COLUMBIA FUNDS DATED DECEMBER 31, 1995,
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000801962
<NAME> COLUMBIA U.S. GOVERNMENT FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 40,519,829
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 40,547,016
<RECEIVABLES> 684,334
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 351,070
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 41,582,420
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 806,079
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 806,079
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 41,145,456
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 4,946,608
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 5,016,001
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (396,302)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 27,187
<NET-ASSETS> 40,776,341
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 2,388,412
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 330,311
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2,058,101
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 83,457
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (584,568)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1,556,990
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 2,058,101
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,751,071
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 2,051,336
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 230,872
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (1,066,043)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (496,594)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 206,591
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 330,311
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 41,244,200
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.34
<PER-SHARE-NII> .41
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.10)
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<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
