<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000885414
<NAME> THE PREFERRED GROUP OF MUTUAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 6
<NAME> PREFERRED SHORT-TERM GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> JUL-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 71,159,248
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 70,880,281
<RECEIVABLES> 996,589
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 71,876,870
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 56,435
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 56,435
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 74,528,797
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 7,549,218
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 6,923,208
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 14,000
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (2,443,395)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (278,967)
<NET-ASSETS> 71,820,435
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 4,151,563
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 394,455
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 3,757,108
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (1,558,091)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 846,898
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 3,045,915
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 3,743,108
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,579,811
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,346,739
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 392,938
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 5,269,062
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (885,304)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 241,455
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 394,455
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 68,753,497
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.61
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.52
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.10)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.52
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.51
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.57
</TABLE>
