<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES OF BERTHEL GROWTH & INCOME
TRUST I AS OF MARCH 31, 1998, AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS OF
THE TRUST FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1998, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                          15,912
<SECURITIES>                                 8,293,747
<RECEIVABLES>                                   29,167
<ALLOWANCES>                               (1,000,000)
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                56,302
<PP&E>                                               0
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               7,395,128
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          944,147
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             0
<OTHER-SE>                                   6,450,981
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 6,450,981
<SALES>                                        145,647
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               145,647
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                77,693
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 67,954
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             67,954
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    67,954
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     6.45<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     6.45
<FN>
<F1>NET INCOME PER BENEFICIAL SHARE IS BASED ON THE WEIGHTED AVERAGE OF SHARES
OUTSTANDING WHICH WAS 10,541 SHARES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 1998.
</FN>