<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> 053
   <NAME> NUVEEN FLAGSHIP NEW YORK MUNICIPAL BOND FUND - CLASS C
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          FEB-29-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             MAR-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-29-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                           245275
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          246607
<RECEIVABLES>                                     4588
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                    4637
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  255832
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                          4104
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                         1390
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                               5494
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        249500
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                             1017
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                              801
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                          284
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                          (778)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                          1332
<NET-ASSETS>                                    250338
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                15515
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                    1413
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                          14102
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         (777)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      (19651)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           (6326)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                          453
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                            20
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                            528
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                        327
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                 15
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          (8399)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                            101
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                          533
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                             1382
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                   2146
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                              9296
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.06
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .52
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                          (.85)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                             (.51)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                        (.02)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              10.20
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.15


</TABLE>