<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000819673
<NAME> MFS SERIES TRUST VIII
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 011
<NAME> MFS STRATEGIC INCOME FUND Class A
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<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> 310516236
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 290536633
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<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 34760
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 298843320
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 9066085
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 5623660
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 14689745
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 326825057
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 14749648
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 13760890
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (129217)
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (20524734)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (22017531)
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<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 125808
<INTEREST-INCOME> 12746443
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1829693)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 11042558
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1011631)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (7037805)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2993122
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (4992244)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 3265903
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2687728)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 410583
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (275949)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 2467079
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<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (19513103)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1605879
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 7.30
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<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.20)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.36)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.03
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.89
</TABLE>
