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<PAGE> PAGE 2
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<PAGE> PAGE 3
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<PAGE> PAGE 9
SIGNATURE BARRY FINK
TITLE VP & GENERAL COUNSEL
[ARTICLE] 6
[LEGEND]
SEMI-ANNUAL FDS
PREMIER INCOME TRUST
04-30-97
[/LEGEND]
[CIK] 0000873738
[NAME] PREMIER INCOME TRUST
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE] 6-MOS
[FISCAL-YEAR-END] OCT-31-1997
[PERIOD-END] APR-30-1997
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST] 12,910,000
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE] 12,910,000
[RECEIVABLES] 0
[ASSETS-OTHER] 13,624
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS] 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS] 12,923,624
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES] 0
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT] 0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES] 70,794
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES] 70,794
[SENIOR-EQUITY] 0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON] 22,089,917
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK] 1,470,590
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR] 2,873,934
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT] 202,746
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS] (9,439,833)
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS] 0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC] 0
[NET-ASSETS] 12,852,830
[DIVIDEND-INCOME] 0
[INTEREST-INCOME] 894,631
[OTHER-INCOME] 0
[EXPENSES-NET] 217,096
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME] 677,265
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT] (3,295,776)
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT] 3,039,051
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS] 420,540
[EQUALIZATION] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME] (430,821)
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER] 0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD] 60,712
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED] (1,494,141)
[SHARES-REINVESTED] 30,085
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS] (12,301,626)
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR] 0
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR] (6,144,057)
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR] (43,698)
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES] 48,763
[INTEREST-EXPENSE] 71,777
[GROSS-EXPENSE] 217,096
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS] 19,666,711
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN] 8.75
[PER-SHARE-NII] .34
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC] (.16)
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND] (.19)
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS] 0
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL] 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END] 8.74
[EXPENSE-RATIO] 2.23
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 4,320,330
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 1.66
</TABLE>
