<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 01/31/2000
000 C000000 0000827773
000 D000000 N
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001 A000000 PUTNAM PREMIER INCOME TRUST
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001 C000000 6172921000
002 A000000 ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02109
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004 000000 N
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<PAGE> PAGE 2
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008 A000001 PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-7974
008 D010001 BOSTON
008 D020001 MA
008 D030001 02109
011 A000001 PUTNAM MUTUAL FUNDS CORP
011 B000001 8-5088
011 C010001 BOSTON
011 C020001 MA
011 C030001 02109
012 A000001 PUTNAM INVESTOR SERVICES
012 B000001 84-401299
012 C010001 BOSTON
012 C020001 MA
012 C030001 02109
013 A000001 KPMG LLP
013 B010001 BOSTON
013 B020001 MA
013 B030001 02110
014 A000001 DELETE
015 A000001 PUTNAM FIDUCIARY TRUST COMPANY
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 BOSTON
015 C020001 MA
015 C030001 02109
015 E010001 X
015 A000002 BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN AND COMPANY
015 B000002 C
015 C010002 BOSTON
<PAGE> PAGE 3
015 C020002 MA
015 C030002 02109
015 E010002 X
018 000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000 97
019 C000000 PUTNAMFUND
020 A000001 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INC.
020 B000001 13-5674085
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020 B000002 13-3224016
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020 A000003 MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
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020 C000006 3
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020 A000008 CARR FUTURES
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020 A000009 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
022 B000005 13-3224016
022 C000005 512358
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022 C000009 30338
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<PAGE> PAGE 5
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<PAGE> PAGE 6
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<PAGE> PAGE 7
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<PAGE> PAGE 8
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<PAGE> PAGE 9
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<PAGE> PAGE 10
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SIGNATURE PAUL BUCAVALAS
TITLE MANAGING DIRECTOR
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM PUTNAM PREMIER INCOME TRUST AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> PUTNAM PREMIER INCOME TRUST
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,144,512,086
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,075,153,736
<RECEIVABLES> 44,332,334
<ASSETS-OTHER> 943,499
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,120,429,569
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 58,886,834
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 25,030,423
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 83,917,257
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<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,221,125,546
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 140,989,259
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 140,989,259
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (12,711,831)
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (101,194,638)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (70,706,765)
<NET-ASSETS> 1,036,512,312
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 2,672,518
<INTEREST-INCOME> 44,968,463
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 4,301,052
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<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (21,453,540)
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<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (49,768,210)
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<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (37,467,191)
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<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (6,283,550)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (79,741,098)
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<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,052,650,818
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 7.62
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<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.35)
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 7.35
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .41
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
