<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains Summary Financial Information extracted from the Form
N-SAR and the financial statements and is qualified in its entirety by
references to such documents.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 044
   <NAME> NUVEEN FLAGSHIP LIMITED TERM MUNI BOND FUND - CLASS R
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             MAY-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                           460445
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          455390
<RECEIVABLES>                                    17841
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                      20
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  473251
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                          7651
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                         5229
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              12880
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        470782
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                               32
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                              108
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                          705
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                         (6061)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                        (5055)
<NET-ASSETS>                                    460371
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                27454
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                    4032
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          23422
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        (2224)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      (24703)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           (3505)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                           35
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                             13
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                         91
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  2
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                         (85017)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                            225
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                       (3802)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                             2223
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                   4039
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                               745
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.87
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .51
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          (.55)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.50)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              10.33
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .53


</TABLE>