<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 NORTH CAROLINA MUNI BOND FUND - CLASS R
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAY-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JUN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAY-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                           188840
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          182241
<RECEIVABLES>                                     4071
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       5
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  186317
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                         4324
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                               4324
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        191187
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                              141
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                              126
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            5
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                         (2600)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                        (6599)
<NET-ASSETS>                                    181993
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                11859
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                    2118
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                           9741
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        (2469)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      (15749)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           (8477)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                           69
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                             35
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                         27
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  6
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                           30804
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              5
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                        (130)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                             1067
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                   2133
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                              1359
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.38
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .51
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          (.88)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.51)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               9.50
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                    .80


</TABLE>