UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

             QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2009              COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-07094

                           EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

MARYLAND                                                         13-2711135
(State or other jurisdiction                                  (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)                            Identification No.)

190 EAST CAPITOL STREET
SUITE 400
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI                                                    39201
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip code)

Registrant's telephone number:  (601) 354-3555

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  Registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days. YES (x) NO ( )

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted  electronically  and
posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every  Interactive  Data File required
to be submitted  and posted  pursuant to Rule 405 of  Regulation  S-T during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to submit and post such files).  YES ( ) NO ( )*  (*Registrant is not subject to
the requirements of Rule 405 of Regulation S-T at this time.)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large  accelerated  filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated  filer or a smaller reporting company.  See
the definitions of "large accelerated  filer,"  "accelerated filer" and "smaller
reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one)

   Large Accelerated Filer (x) Accelerated Filer ( ) Non-accelerated Filer ( )
                         Smaller Reporting Company ( )

Indicate by check mark whether the  Registrant is a shell company (as defined in
Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES ( ) NO (x)

The number of shares of common stock, $.0001 par value, outstanding as of May 6,
2009 was 25,207,655.




                                       1



                           EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.

                                    FORM 10-Q

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                      FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2009


                                                                                      

                                                                                            Page
PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.   Financial Statements

          Consolidated  Balance Sheets,  March 31, 2009 (unaudited) and December
          31, 2008                                                                            3

          Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended March 31,
          2009 and 2008 (unaudited)                                                           4

          Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the three months ended
          March 31, 2009 (unaudited)                                                          5

          Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March
          31, 2009 and 2008 (unaudited)                                                       6

          Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)                              7

Item 2.   Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
          of Operations                                                                      13

Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk                         22

Item 4.   Controls and Procedures                                                            23

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A.  Risk Factors                                                                       23

Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds                        23

Item 6.   Exhibits                                                                           23

SIGNATURES

Authorized signatures                                                                        24





                                       2




                           EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
               (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT FOR SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA)


                                                                                    March 31, 2009           December 31, 2008
                                                                                -------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     (Unaudited)
                                                                                                                
ASSETS
  Real estate properties..................................................          $    1,267,039                1,252,282
  Development.............................................................                 151,438                  150,354
                                                                                -------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         1,418,477                1,402,636
      Less accumulated depreciation.......................................                (321,249)                (310,351)
                                                                                -------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         1,097,228                1,092,285

  Unconsolidated investment...............................................                   2,687                    2,666
  Cash....................................................................                     279                      293
  Other assets............................................................                  61,892                   60,961
                                                                                -------------------------------------------------
      TOTAL ASSETS........................................................          $    1,162,086                1,156,205
                                                                                =================================================

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

LIABILITIES
  Mortgage notes payable..................................................          $      549,972                  585,806
  Notes payable to banks..................................................                 164,209                  109,886
  Accounts payable & accrued expenses.....................................                  23,552                   32,838
  Other liabilities.......................................................                  15,442                   14,299
                                                                                -------------------------------------------------
      Total Liabilities...................................................                 753,175                  742,829
                                                                                -------------------------------------------------

EQUITY
Stockholders' Equity:
  Common shares; $.0001 par value; 70,000,000 shares authorized;
    25,186,459 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2009 and
    25,070,401 at December 31, 2008.......................................                       3                        3
  Excess shares; $.0001 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized;
    no shares issued......................................................                       -                        -
  Additional paid-in capital on common shares.............................                 529,336                  528,452
  Distributions in excess of earnings.....................................                (122,492)                (117,093)
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss....................................                    (492)                    (522)
                                                                                -------------------------------------------------
      Total Stockholders' Equity..........................................                 406,355                  410,840
                                                                                -------------------------------------------------
Noncontrolling interest in joint ventures.................................                   2,556                    2,536
                                                                                -------------------------------------------------
      Total Equity........................................................                 408,911                  413,376
                                                                                -------------------------------------------------

      TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY........................................          $    1,162,086                1,156,205
                                                                                =================================================


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

                                       3



                           EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.
                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                      (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
                                   (UNAUDITED)


                                                                                        Three Months Ended
                                                                                             March 31,
                                                                                  -------------------------------
                                                                                      2009              2008
                                                                                  -------------------------------
                                                                                                  
REVENUES
  Income from real estate operations.......................................       $    43,310          40,079
  Other income.............................................................                15             195
                                                                                  -------------------------------
                                                                                       43,325          40,274
                                                                                  -------------------------------
EXPENSES

  Expenses from real estate operations.....................................            12,591          10,839
  Depreciation and amortization............................................            13,044          12,375
  General and administrative...............................................             2,561           2,081
                                                                                  -------------------------------
                                                                                       28,196          25,295
                                                                                  -------------------------------

OPERATING INCOME...........................................................            15,129          14,979

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
  Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investment..........................                81              80
  Gain on sale of non-operating real estate................................                 8               7
  Gain on sales of securities..............................................                 -             435
  Interest income..........................................................               124              37
  Interest expense.........................................................            (7,501)         (7,373)
                                                                                  -------------------------------
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS..........................................             7,841           8,165
                                                                                  -------------------------------

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
  Income from real estate operations.......................................                 -              82
                                                                                  -------------------------------
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS........................................                 -              82
                                                                                  -------------------------------

NET INCOME.................................................................             7,841           8,247
  Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in joint ventures.....              (163)           (156)
                                                                                  -------------------------------
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.......................             7,678           8,091

  Dividends on Series D preferred shares...................................                 -             656
                                                                                  -------------------------------

NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.
   COMMON STOCKHOLDERS.....................................................       $     7,678           7,435
                                                                                  ===============================

BASIC PER COMMON SHARE DATA FOR INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO
   EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.
  Income from continuing operations........................................       $       .31             .31
  Income from discontinued operations......................................               .00             .00
                                                                                  -------------------------------
  Net income available to common stockholders..............................       $       .31             .31
                                                                                  ===============================

  Weighted average shares outstanding......................................            24,999          23,684
                                                                                  ===============================

DILUTED PER COMMON SHARE DATA FOR INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO
   EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.
  Income from continuing operations........................................       $       .31             .31
  Income from discontinued operations......................................               .00             .00
                                                                                  -------------------------------
  Net income available to common stockholders..............................       $       .31             .31
                                                                                  ===============================

  Weighted average shares outstanding......................................            25,070          23,829
                                                                                  ===============================

AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.
   COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
  Income from continuing operations........................................       $     7,678           7,353
  Income from discontinued operations......................................                 -              82
                                                                                  -------------------------------
  Net income available to common stockholders..............................       $     7,678           7,435
                                                                                  ===============================

Dividends declared per common share........................................       $       .52             .52


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

                                       4



                           EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.
                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
               (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT FOR SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA)
                                   (UNAUDITED)


                                                                 EastGroup Properties, Inc.
                                                    ---------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           Accumulated
                                                             Additional    Distributions      Other        Noncontrolling
                                                    Common    Paid-In        In Excess    Comprehensive     Interest in
                                                     Stock    Capital       Of Earnings       Loss         Joint Ventures     Total
                                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                             
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2008.......................   $    3     528,452        (117,093)         (522)             2,536     413,376
  Comprehensive income
    Net income...................................        -           -           7,678             -                163       7,841
    Net unrealized change in fair value of
     interest rate swap..........................        -           -               -            30                  -          30
                                                                                                                            --------
       Total comprehensive income................                                                                             7,871
                                                                                                                            --------
  Common dividends declared - $.52 per share.....        -           -         (13,077)            -                  -     (13,077)
  Stock-based compensation, net of forfeitures...        -         437               -             -                  -         437
  Issuance of 25,000 shares of common stock,
    options exercised............................        -         509               -             -                  -         509
  Issuance of 2,431 shares of common stock,
    dividend reinvestment plan...................        -          67               -             -                  -          67
  3,628 shares withheld to satisfy tax
    withholding obligations in connection with
    the vesting of restricted stock..............        -        (129)              -             -                  -        (129)
  Distributions to noncontrolling interest.......        -           -               -             -               (143)       (143)
                                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE, MARCH 31, 2009..........................   $    3     529,336        (122,492)         (492)             2,556     408,911
                                                    ================================================================================


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).







                                       5



                           EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
                                   (UNAUDITED)


                                                                                                       Three Months Ended
                                                                                                            March 31,
                                                                                                 ------------------------------
                                                                                                      2009             2008
                                                                                                 ------------------------------
                                                                                                                  
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
  Net income attributable to EastGroup Properties, Inc.................................          $    7,678             8,091
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization from continuing operations...........................              13,044            12,375
    Depreciation and amortization from discontinued operations.........................                   -                43
    Noncontrolling interest depreciation and amortization..............................                 (51)              (49)
    Amortization of mortgage loan premiums.............................................                 (30)              (30)
    Gain on sale of non-operating real estate..........................................                  (8)               (7)
    Gain on sales of securities........................................................                   -              (435)
    Amortization of discount on mortgage loan receivable...............................                  (4)                -
    Stock-based compensation expense...................................................                 438               458
    Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investment, net of distributions..............                 (21)              (20)
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
      Accrued income and other assets..................................................                 992               282
      Accounts payable, accrued expenses and prepaid rent..............................              (4,043)           (7,081)
                                                                                                 ------------------------------
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES..............................................              17,995            13,627
                                                                                                 ------------------------------

INVESTING ACTIVITIES
  Real estate development..............................................................             (12,327)          (26,874)
  Purchases of real estate.............................................................                   -           (41,058)
  Real estate improvements.............................................................              (3,515)           (3,533)
  Repayments on mortgage loans receivable..............................................                   8                 7
  Purchases of securities..............................................................                   -            (7,534)
  Proceeds from sales of securities....................................................                   -             7,969
  Changes in other assets and other liabilities........................................              (2,140)           (1,232)
                                                                                                 ------------------------------
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES..................................................             (17,974)          (72,255)
                                                                                                 ------------------------------

FINANCING ACTIVITIES
  Proceeds from bank borrowings........................................................              80,267           126,084
  Repayments on bank borrowings........................................................             (25,944)         (128,821)
  Proceeds from mortgage notes payable.................................................               9,365            78,000
  Principal payments on mortgage notes payable.........................................             (45,169)           (3,745)
  Debt issuance costs..................................................................                 (30)           (1,595)
  Distributions paid to stockholders...................................................             (13,098)          (13,086)
  Proceeds from exercise of stock options..............................................                   8                26
  Proceeds from dividend reinvestment plan.............................................                  67                71
  Other................................................................................              (5,501)            1,157
                                                                                                 ------------------------------
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES....................................                 (35)           58,091
                                                                                                 ------------------------------

DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS..................................................                 (14)             (537)
  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD.....................................                 293               724
                                                                                                 ------------------------------
  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD...........................................          $      279               187
                                                                                                 ==============================

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
  Cash paid for interest, net of amount capitalized of $1,651 and $1,705
    for 2009 and 2008, respectively....................................................          $    7,240             7,749
  Fair value of common stock awards issued to employees and directors,
    net of forfeitures.................................................................               2,217             1,018


See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

                                       6



             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

(1)  BASIS OF PRESENTATION

     The accompanying  unaudited financial  statements of EastGroup  Properties,
Inc.  ("EastGroup"  or "the Company") have been prepared in accordance with U.S.
generally   accepted   accounting   principles   (GAAP)  for  interim  financial
information and with the  instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation
S-X.  Accordingly,  they do not include  all of the  information  and  footnotes
required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In management's opinion, all
adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a
fair presentation have been included. The financial statements should be read in
conjunction with the financial statements contained in the 2008 annual report on
Form 10-K and the notes thereto.

(2)  PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

     The  consolidated  financial  statements  include the accounts of EastGroup
Properties,  Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiaries and its investment in any joint
ventures in which the Company has a controlling  interest.  At December 31, 2008
and  March  31,  2009,  the  Company  had a  controlling  interest  in two joint
ventures:  the 80% owned University  Business Center and the 80% owned Castilian
Research  Center.  The  Company  records  100% of the  joint  ventures'  assets,
liabilities, revenues and expenses with noncontrolling interests provided for in
accordance with the joint venture agreements. The equity method of accounting is
used for the  Company's  50%  undivided  tenant-in-common  interest  in Industry
Distribution Center II. All significant  intercompany  transactions and accounts
have been eliminated in consolidation.

(3)  USE OF ESTIMATES

     The  preparation of financial  statements in conformity  with GAAP requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities  and revenues and expenses  during the reporting  period,
and to disclose  material  contingent  assets and liabilities at the date of the
financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

(4)  REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES

     EastGroup  has  one   reportable   segment-industrial   properties.   These
properties  are  concentrated  in major  Sunbelt  markets of the United  States,
primarily in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona and California,  have similar
economic  characteristics  and also  meet the other  criteria  that  permit  the
properties to be aggregated  into one reportable  segment.  The Company  reviews
long-lived  assets for impairment  whenever  events or changes in  circumstances
indicate  that  the  carrying  amount  of  an  asset  may  not  be  recoverable.
Recoverability  of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the
carrying  amount of an asset to future  undiscounted  net cash flows  (including
estimated future  expenditures  necessary to  substantially  complete the asset)
expected  to be  generated  by the  asset.  If the  carrying  amount of an asset
exceeds its estimated  future cash flows, an impairment  charge is recognized by
the amount by which the carrying  amount of the asset  exceeds the fair value of
the asset.  As of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008,  the Company  determined
that  no  impairment  charges  on the  Company's  real  estate  properties  were
necessary. Depreciation of buildings and other improvements,  including personal
property, is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives
of  generally  40 years for  buildings  and 3 to 15 years for  improvements  and
personal property. Building improvements are capitalized,  while maintenance and
repair expenses are charged to expense as incurred.  Significant renovations and
improvements  that  extend  the  useful  life  of  or  improve  the  assets  are
capitalized. Depreciation expense for continuing and discontinued operations was
$10,898,000  and $10,222,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008,
respectively.  The  Company's  real  estate  properties  at March  31,  2009 and
December 31, 2008 were as follows:


                                                                     March 31, 2009     December 31, 2008
                                                                    --------------------------------------
                                                                                (In thousands)
                                                                                          
        Real estate properties:
           Land................................................      $       188,825            187,617
           Buildings and building improvements.................              876,926            867,506
           Tenant and other improvements.......................              201,288            197,159
        Development............................................              151,438            150,354
                                                                    --------------------------------------
                                                                           1,418,477          1,402,636
           Less accumulated depreciation.......................             (321,249)          (310,351)
                                                                    --------------------------------------
                                                                     $     1,097,228          1,092,285
                                                                    ======================================


(5)  DEVELOPMENT

     During  the  period  in  which  a  property  is  under  development,  costs
associated with development (i.e., land,  construction costs,  interest expense,
property taxes and other direct and indirect costs associated with  development)
are aggregated  into the total  capitalized  costs of the property.  Included in
these costs are  management's  estimates  for the  portions  of  internal  costs
(primarily  personnel  costs) that are deemed directly or indirectly  related to
such  development  activities.  As the  property  becomes  occupied,  costs  are
capitalized  only for the portion of the building that remains vacant.  When the
property  becomes  80%  occupied  or one  year  after  completion  of the  shell
construction  (whichever  comes  first),  capitalization  of  development  costs
ceases.  The properties  are then  transferred  to real estate  properties,  and
depreciation commences on the entire property (excluding the land).

                                       7



(6)  BUSINESS COMBINATIONS AND ACQUIRED INTANGIBLES

     Upon  acquisition  of real  estate  properties,  the  Company  applies  the
principles  of  Statement  of Financial  Accounting  Standards  (SFAS) No. 141R,
Business  Combinations,   which  requires  that  acquisition-related   costs  be
recognized  as expenses in the periods in which the costs are  incurred  and the
services are received.  The Statement also provides  guidance on how to properly
determine the allocation of the purchase  price among the individual  components
of both the  tangible  and  intangible  assets  based on their  respective  fair
values.  The Company  determines whether any financing assumed is above or below
market based upon comparison to similar financing terms for similar  properties.
The cost of the  properties  acquired  may be  adjusted  based  on  indebtedness
assumed from the seller that is  determined  to be above or below market  rates.
Factors  considered  by  management  in  allocating  the cost of the  properties
acquired  include an estimate of carrying  costs  during the  expected  lease-up
periods  considering  current  market  conditions  and costs to execute  similar
leases.  The allocation to tangible assets (land,  building and improvements) is
based upon management's determination of the value of the property as if it were
vacant using discounted cash flow models.
     The  remaining  purchase  price is  allocated  among  three  categories  of
intangible  assets consisting of the above or below market component of in-place
leases,  the value of in-place  leases and the value of customer  relationships.
The  value  allocable  to the above or below  market  component  of an  acquired
in-place lease is determined based upon the present value (using a discount rate
which reflects the risks  associated with the acquired leases) of the difference
between (i) the  contractual  amounts to be paid  pursuant to the lease over its
remaining term, and (ii) management's estimate of the amounts that would be paid
using fair  market  rates over the  remaining  term of the  lease.  The  amounts
allocated  to above and below  market  leases are  included in Other  Assets and
Other  Liabilities,  respectively,  on the  Consolidated  Balance Sheets and are
amortized to rental income over the remaining  terms of the  respective  leases.
The total amount of  intangible  assets is further  allocated to in-place  lease
values and to customer relationship values based upon management's assessment of
their respective values. These intangible assets are included in Other Assets on
the Consolidated Balance Sheets and are amortized over the remaining term of the
existing  lease,  or the  anticipated  life  of the  customer  relationship,  as
applicable. Amortization expense for in-place lease intangibles was $566,000 and
$742,000  for the three  months  ended  March 31,  2009 and 2008,  respectively.
Amortization  of above and below market  leases was  immaterial  for all periods
presented.
     There were no acquisitions during the first quarter of 2009.
     The Company  periodically  reviews the recoverability of goodwill (at least
annually) and the recoverability of other intangibles (on a quarterly basis) for
possible impairment. In management's opinion, no material impairment of goodwill
and other intangibles existed at March 31, 2009, and December 31, 2008.

(7)  REAL ESTATE HELD FOR SALE/DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

     The Company  considers  a real estate  property to be held for sale when it
meets the criteria established under SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment
or  Disposal  of  Long-Lived  Assets,  including  when it is  probable  that the
property will be sold within a year. A key indicator of  probability  of sale is
whether the buyer has a significant amount of earnest money at risk. Real estate
properties  that are held for sale are  reported  at the  lower of the  carrying
amount or fair value less estimated costs to sell and are not depreciated  while
they are held for sale. In accordance with the guidelines established under SFAS
No. 144,  the results of  operations  for the  properties  sold or held for sale
during the  reported  periods are shown  under  Discontinued  Operations  on the
Consolidated  Statements of Income.  Interest expense is not generally allocated
to the properties that are held for sale or whose  operations are included under
Discontinued  Operations unless the mortgage is required to be paid in full upon
the sale of the property.
     The Company sold no real estate properties during the first quarter of 2009
and had no real estate  properties  that were  considered to be held for sale at
March 31, 2009.

(8)  OTHER ASSETS

     A summary of the Company's Other Assets follows:


                                                                                               March 31, 2009     December 31, 2008
                                                                                              --------------------------------------
                                                                                                          (In thousands)
                                                                                                                    
        Leasing costs (principally commissions), net of accumulated amortization........       $      20,901              20,866
        Straight-line rent receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts...........              14,979              14,914
        Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts.....................               3,926               4,094
        Acquired in-place lease intangibles, net of accumulated amortization
          of $5,699 and $5,626 for 2009 and 2008, respectively..........................               3,803               4,369
        Mortgage loans receivable, net of discount of $77 and $81 for 2009 and
          2008, respectively............................................................               4,170               4,174
        Loan costs, net of accumulated amortization.....................................               4,007               4,246
        Goodwill........................................................................                 990                 990
        Prepaid expenses and other assets...............................................               9,116               7,308
                                                                                              --------------------------------------
                                                                                               $      61,892              60,961
                                                                                              ======================================

                                       8



(9)  ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

     A summary of the Company's Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses follows:


                                                                                 March 31, 2009     December 31, 2008
                                                                                --------------------------------------
                                                                                            (In thousands)
                                                                                                       
        Property taxes payable.........................................          $       8,554              11,136
        Development costs payable......................................                  7,061               7,127
        Interest payable...............................................                  2,475               2,453
        Dividends payable..............................................                  1,236               1,257
        Other payables and accrued expenses............................                  4,226              10,865
                                                                                --------------------------------------
                                                                                 $      23,552              32,838
                                                                                ======================================


(10) OTHER LIABILITIES

     A summary of the Company's Other Liabilities follows:


                                                                                 March 31, 2009     December 31, 2008
                                                                                --------------------------------------
                                                                                            (In thousands)
                                                                                                       
        Security deposits..............................................          $       7,412               7,560
        Prepaid rent and other deferred income.........................                  6,061               5,430
        Other liabilities..............................................                  1,969               1,309
                                                                                --------------------------------------
                                                                                 $      15,442              14,299
                                                                                ======================================


(11) COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

     Comprehensive  income is comprised of net income plus all other  changes in
equity from non-owner sources. The components of accumulated other comprehensive
loss for the three  months ended March 31, 2009 are  presented in the  Company's
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity and for the three months ended March
31, 2009 and 2008 are summarized below.


                                                                                        Three Months Ended
                                                                                             March 31,
                                                                                ----------------------------------
                                                                                     2009                2008
                                                                                ----------------------------------
                                                                                          (In thousands)
                                                                                                    
        ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS:
        Balance at beginning of period.................................          $        (522)            (56)
            Change in fair value of interest rate swap.................                     30            (295)
                                                                                ----------------------------------
        Balance at end of period.......................................          $        (492)           (351)
                                                                                ==================================


(12) DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

     The Company's  interest rate swap is reported at fair value and is shown on
the  Consolidated  Balance  Sheets under Other  Liabilities.  SFAS No. 157, Fair
Value  Measurements,  defines  fair value as the price that would be received to
sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly  transaction between
market participants at the measurement date. SFAS No. 157 also provides guidance
for using fair value to measure financial assets and liabilities.  The Statement
requires  disclosure  of the level within the fair value  hierarchy in which the
fair value  measurements  fall,  including  measurements  using quoted prices in
active markets for identical assets or liabilities  (Level 1), quoted prices for
similar  instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar
instruments in markets that are not active (Level 2), and significant  valuation
assumptions  that are not readily  observable  in the market (Level 3). The fair
value of the  Company's  interest  rate swap is  determined  by  estimating  the
expected  cash  flows over the life of the swap  using the  mid-market  rate and
price  environment  as of the last  trading day of the  reporting  period.  This
market information is considered a Level 2 input as defined by SFAS No. 157.
     On January 1, 2009,  the Company  adopted the  provisions  of SFAS No. 161,
Disclosures About Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,  which requires
all entities with derivative  instruments to disclose information  regarding how
and why the entity uses derivative  instruments  and how derivative  instruments
and related  hedged  items  affect the entity's  financial  position,  financial
performance,  and cash flows.  EastGroup has an interest rate swap  agreement to
hedge its exposure to the variable  interest  rate on the  Company's  $9,365,000
Tower  Automotive  Center  recourse  mortgage,  which is summarized in the table
below.  Under the swap agreement,  the Company  effectively pays a fixed rate of
interest over the term of the agreement  without the exchange of the  underlying
notional amount.  This swap is designated as a cash flow hedge and is considered
to be fully  effective in hedging the  variable  rate risk  associated  with the
Tower  mortgage  loan.  Changes in the fair value of the swap are  recognized in
accumulated other comprehensive loss (see Note 11). The Company does not hold or
issue this type of derivative contract for trading or speculative purposes.

                                       9




                 Current
   Type of       Notional      Maturity                               Fixed           Effective       Fair Value      Fair Value
    Hedge         Amount         Date        Reference Rate       Interest Rate     Interest Rate     at 3/31/09      at 12/31/08
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (In thousands)                                                                                (In thousands)
                                                                                                     
    Swap          $9,365       12/31/10      1 month LIBOR            4.03%             6.03%           ($492)           ($522)


(13) EARNINGS PER SHARE

     Basic  earnings per share (EPS)  represents  the amount of earnings for the
period available to each share of common stock outstanding  during the reporting
period.  The Company's basic EPS is calculated by dividing net income  available
to  common  stockholders  by  the  weighted  average  number  of  common  shares
outstanding.
     Diluted EPS represents  the amount of earnings for the period  available to
each share of common stock  outstanding  during the reporting period and to each
share that would have been  outstanding  assuming the issuance of common  shares
for all  dilutive  potential  common  shares  outstanding  during the  reporting
period.  The Company  calculates diluted EPS by dividing net income available to
common  stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding
plus the dilutive effect of nonvested restricted stock and stock options had the
options  been  exercised.  The  dilutive  effect  of  stock  options  and  their
equivalents  (such as  nonvested  restricted  stock)  was  determined  using the
treasury stock method which assumes  exercise of the options as of the beginning
of the period or when issued,  if later,  and assumes proceeds from the exercise
of options are used to purchase  common stock at the average market price during
the period.
     Reconciliation  of the numerators and denominators in the basic and diluted
EPS computations is as follows:


                                                                                        Three Months Ended
                                                                                             March 31,
                                                                                ----------------------------------
                                                                                     2009                2008
                                                                                ----------------------------------
                                                                                          (In thousands)
                                                                                                    
        BASIC EPS COMPUTATION FOR INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO
          EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.
          Numerator-net income available to common stockholders........          $     7,678             7,435
          Denominator-weighted average shares outstanding..............               24,999            23,684
        DILUTED EPS COMPUTATION FOR INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO
          EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.
          Numerator-net income available to common stockholders........          $     7,678             7,435
          Denominator:
            Weighted average shares outstanding........................               24,999            23,684
            Common stock options.......................................                   22                60
            Nonvested restricted stock.................................                   49                85
                                                                                ----------------------------------
              Total Shares.............................................               25,070            23,829
                                                                                ==================================


(14) STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Management Incentive Plan
     The  Company  has a  management  incentive  plan which was  approved by the
shareholders  and adopted in 2004.  This plan  authorizes  the issuance of up to
1,900,000  shares of common  stock to  employees  in the form of options,  stock
appreciation  rights,  restricted  stock (limited to 570,000  shares),  deferred
stock  units,  performance  shares,  stock  bonuses,  and  stock.  Total  shares
available  for grant were  1,597,796 at March 31, 2009.  Typically,  the Company
issues new shares to fulfill stock grants or upon the exercise of stock options.
     Stock-based  compensation  was  $435,000  and $603,000 for the three months
ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively,  of which $58,000 and $184,000 were
capitalized as part of the Company's development costs.

Restricted Stock
     In the second  quarter of 2008,  the Company  granted  shares to  executive
officers  contingent upon the attainment of certain annual performance goals. In
March 2009,  31,811 shares were awarded at a grant date fair value of $47.65 per
share.  These shares vested 20% on March 5, 2009,  and will vest 20% per year on
each January 1 for the subsequent four years.
     In the second  quarter of 2006,  the Company  granted  shares to  executive
officers  contingent upon the attainment of performance  goals over a three-year
period ended December 31, 2008.  The weighted  average grant date fair value for
shares to be awarded under the multi-year  market  conditions was  approximately
$2.1 million.  In March 2009, 60,474 shares were awarded,  and these shares will
vest 25% per year on January 1, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
     Following is a summary of the total  restricted  shares granted,  forfeited
and delivered (vested) to employees with the related weighted average grant date
fair value share prices. Of the shares that vested in the first quarter of 2009,
3,628  shares were  withheld by the Company to satisfy the tax  obligations  for
those employees who elected this option as permitted under the applicable equity
plan.  As of the vesting  date,  the fair value of shares that vested during the
first quarter of 2009 was $747,000.

                                       10



Restricted Stock Activity:


                                                    Three Months Ended
                                                      March 31, 2009
                                               ---------------------------
                                                                Weighted
                                                                 Average
                                                Shares         Grant Date
                                                               Fair Value
                                               ---------------------------
                                                             
Nonvested at beginning of period.......         87,685         $   36.95
Granted (1)............................         92,555             39.40
Forfeited..............................           (300)            20.50
Vested.................................        (23,400)            31.93
                                               --------
Nonvested at end of period.............        156,540             37.04
                                               ========


(1)  Primarily  represents shares issued in March 2009 that were granted in 2008
     subject to the satisfaction of annual performance goals and in 2006 subject
     to the satisfaction of performance goals over a three-year period.

Directors Equity Plan
     The Company has a directors  equity plan that was approved by  shareholders
and adopted in 2005 and was  further  amended by the Board of  Directors  in May
2008,  which  authorizes  the  issuance of up to 50,000  shares of common  stock
through awards of shares and restricted shares granted to non-employee directors
of the Company.  Stock-based  compensation expense for directors was $61,000 and
$39,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

(15) RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

     The state of the overall  economy can  significantly  impact the  Company's
operational  performance  and  thus,  impact  its  financial  position.   Should
EastGroup  experience a significant decline in operational  performance,  it may
affect the  Company's  ability to make  distributions  to its  shareholders  and
service debt or meet other financial obligations.

(16) RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

     The Financial  Accounting  Standards Board (FASB) deferred for one year the
fair  value  measurement  requirements  contained  in SFAS No.  157,  Fair Value
Measurements,  for nonfinancial  assets and liabilities that are not required or
permitted to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis.  These  provisions,
which are included in FASB Staff  Position  (FSP) FAS 157-2,  were effective for
fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. The adoption of these provisions
in 2009 had an immaterial impact on the Company's overall financial position and
results of operations.
     In December  2007,  the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (Revised  2007),  Business
Combinations,  which retains the  fundamental  requirements  in SFAS No. 141 and
requires the identifiable  assets  acquired,  the liabilities  assumed,  and any
noncontrolling  interest  in the  acquiree  be  measured at fair value as of the
acquisition  date.  In  addition,  Statement  141R  requires  that any  goodwill
acquired in the business combination be measured as a residual,  and it provides
guidance in  determining  what  information  to disclose to enable  users of the
financial  statements  to  evaluate  the  nature  and  financial  effects of the
business combination. The Statement also requires that acquisition-related costs
be recognized as expenses in the periods in which the costs are incurred and the
services  are  received.   SFAS  No.  141R  applies  prospectively  to  business
combinations  for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the
first  annual  reporting  period  beginning on or after  December 15, 2008.  The
adoption of Statement  141R in 2009 had an  immaterial  impact on the  Company's
overall financial position and results of operations.
     Also in  December  2007,  the  FASB  issued  SFAS No.  160,  Noncontrolling
Interests  in  Consolidated  Financial  Statements,  which  is an  amendment  of
Accounting  Research  Bulletin (ARB) No. 51. Statement 160 provides guidance for
entities that prepare consolidated financial statements that have an outstanding
noncontrolling  interest in one or more  subsidiaries  or that  deconsolidate  a
subsidiary.  SFAS No. 160 was effective for fiscal  years,  and interim  periods
within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The adoption
of  Statement  160 in 2009 had an  immaterial  impact on the  Company's  overall
financial position and results of operations.
     In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161,  Disclosures  About Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities,  which is an amendment of FASB Statement No.
133. SFAS No. 161 requires all entities with derivative  instruments to disclose
information regarding how and why the entity uses derivative instruments and how
derivative  instruments  and related hedged items affect the entity's  financial
position,  financial  performance,  and cash flows. The Company adopted SFAS No.
161 on January 1, 2009.
     During 2008,  the FASB issued FSP FAS 142-3,  which amends the factors that
should be  considered  in developing  renewal or extension  assumptions  used to
determine the useful life of a recognized  intangible asset under FASB Statement
No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible  Assets. FSP FAS 142-3 requires an entity
to disclose  information  that enables  financial  statement users to assess the
extent to which the  expected  future cash flows  associated  with the asset are
affected  by  the  entity's  intent  and/or  ability  to  renew  or  extend  the
arrangement.  The intent of this Staff  Position is to improve  the  consistency
between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under Statement 142 and
the period of  expected  cash flows used to measure  the fair value of the asset
under Statement 141R and other U.S.  generally accepted  accounting  principles.
FSP FAS 142-3 was  effective for  financial  statements  issued for fiscal years
beginning  after  December 15,  2008,  and interim

                                       11



periods within those fiscal years.  The adoption of FSP FAS 142-3 in 2009 had an
immaterial  impact on the Company's  overall  financial  position and results of
operations.
     Also in 2008,  the  Emerging  Issues  Task Force  (EITF)  issued EITF 08-6,
Equity  Method  Investment  Accounting  Considerations,  which  applies  to  all
investments  accounted for under the equity method and clarifies the  accounting
for  certain   transactions  and  impairment   considerations   involving  those
investments.  EITF 08-6 was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal
years  beginning on or after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those
fiscal years. The adoption of EITF 08-6 in 2009 had an immaterial  impact on the
Company's overall financial position and results of operations.
     In April 2009,  the FASB issued FSP FAS 107-1,  which  amends SFAS No. 107,
Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial  Instruments,  to require  disclosures
about fair value of  financial  instruments  for  interim  reporting  periods of
publicly traded  companies as well as in annual financial  statements.  This FSP
also  amends  Accounting  Principles  Board  (APB)  No.  28,  Interim  Financial
Reporting,  to require those disclosures in summarized financial  information at
interim  reporting  periods.  FSP FAS 107-1 is effective  for interim  reporting
periods  ending  after  June 15,  2009,  and the  Company  anticipates  that the
adoption of this FSP will have an  immaterial  impact on the  Company's  overall
financial position and results of operations.

(17) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

     In March,  EastGroup  executed an  application  on a $67  million,  limited
recourse first mortgage loan secured by properties containing 1.7 million square
feet.  The loan has a recourse  liability  of $5 million  which may be  released
based on the secured  properties  obtaining certain base rent amounts.  The loan
closed on May 5, 2009, and has a fixed interest rate of 7.5%, a 10-year term and
a 20-year amortization  schedule. The Company used the proceeds of this mortgage
loan to reduce variable rate bank borrowings.
     During  the  fourth  quarter  of 2008,  EastGroup  acquired  94.3  acres of
developable  land in Orlando for $9.1  million.  The Company is currently  under
contract  to  purchase  an  additional  35.9  acres  in a  second  phase of this
acquisition  for $5 million.  This  transaction  is expected to close during the
fourth quarter of 2009.


                                       12



ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S  DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS.

OVERVIEW
     EastGroup's  goal is to  maximize  shareholder  value by being the  leading
provider  in  its  markets  of  functional,   flexible,   and  quality  business
distribution  space for  location  sensitive  tenants  primarily in the 5,000 to
50,000  square  foot  range.  The  Company   develops,   acquires  and  operates
distribution  facilities,  the  majority  of which are  clustered  around  major
transportation  features  in  supply  constrained  submarkets  in major  Sunbelt
regions. The Company's core markets are in the states of Florida, Texas, Arizona
and California.
     The Company believes that the slowdown in the economy has affected and will
continue  to affect its  operations.  The  Company  is  projecting  a  continued
decrease  in  occupancy,  and  there are no plans for  development  starts.  The
current economic situation is also impacting  lenders,  and it is more difficult
to  obtain  financing.  Loan  proceeds  as a  percentage  of  property  value is
decreasing,  and long-term  interest rates are increasing.  The Company believes
that its current lines of credit  provide the capacity to fund the operations of
the Company for the  remainder of 2009 and 2010.  The Company also believes that
it  can  obtain  mortgage  financing  from  insurance  companies  and  financial
institutions  as  evidenced  by the executed  loan  application  for $67 million
described in Liquidity and Capital Resources.
     The  Company's  primary  revenue  is rental  income;  as such,  EastGroup's
greatest  challenge  is leasing  space.  During the three months ended March 31,
2009, leases on 1,286,000 square feet (5.0%) of EastGroup's total square footage
of 25,757,000 expired,  and the Company was successful in renewing or re-leasing
73% of the expiring  square feet. In addition,  EastGroup  leased 342,000 square
feet of other vacant  space  during this  period.  During the three months ended
March 31,  2009,  average  rental rates on new and renewal  leases  decreased by
5.0%.
     EastGroup's total leased  percentage was 93.4% at March 31, 2009,  compared
to 94.9% at March 31, 2008. Leases scheduled to expire for the remainder of 2009
were 9.7% of the  portfolio on a square foot basis at March 31,  2009,  and this
figure was  reduced to 7.0% as of May 6, 2009.  Property  net  operating  income
(PNOI) from same properties decreased 2.6% for the quarter ended March 31, 2009,
as compared to the same period in 2008.
     EastGroup  continues to see targeted  development as a major contributor to
the Company's  long-term  growth.  The Company  mitigates risks  associated with
development through a Board-approved  maximum level of land held for development
and  by  adjusting  development  start  dates  according  to  leasing  activity.
EastGroup's  development activity has slowed considerably as a result of current
market conditions. The Company had no development starts in the first quarter of
2009  and  currently  does not have  any  plans  to  start  construction  on new
developments  for the remainder of 2009.  During the first quarter of 2009,  the
Company transferred two properties (145,000 square feet) with aggregate costs of
$10.2  million  at  the  date  of  transfer  from  development  to  real  estate
properties.  These properties, which were collectively 82.9% leased as of May 6,
2009, are located in Phoenix, Arizona, and San Antonio, Texas.
     During  the first  quarter of 2009,  the  Company  funded  its  development
program  through its $225 million lines of credit (as discussed in Liquidity and
Capital  Resources).  As market  conditions  permit,  EastGroup  issues  equity,
including  preferred  equity,  and/or  employs  fixed-rate,  non-recourse  first
mortgage debt to replace the short-term bank borrowings.
     EastGroup  has  one   reportable   segment-industrial   properties.   These
properties are primarily  located in major Sunbelt regions of the United States,
have similar  economic  characteristics  and also meet the other  criteria  that
permit  the  properties  to be  aggregated  into  one  reportable  segment.  The
Company's chief decision makers use two primary measures of operating results in
making decisions:  property net operating income (PNOI),  defined as income from
real estate operations less property operating expenses (before interest expense
and  depreciation  and  amortization),  and funds from  operations  available to
common stockholders  (FFO),  defined as net income (loss) computed in accordance
with U.S. generally accepted  accounting  principles (GAAP),  excluding gains or
losses from sales of depreciable real estate property,  plus real estate related
depreciation  and  amortization,   and  after  adjustments  for   unconsolidated
partnerships  and  joint  ventures.  The  Company  calculates  FFO  based on the
National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts' (NAREIT) definition.
     PNOI is a supplemental  industry reporting measurement used to evaluate the
performance of the Company's real estate investments.  The Company believes that
the exclusion of depreciation and amortization in the industry's  calculation of
PNOI provides a supplemental indicator of the properties' performance since real
estate values have historically risen or fallen with market conditions.  PNOI as
calculated  by the  Company  may  not be  comparable  to  similarly  titled  but
differently calculated measures for other real estate investment trusts (REITs).
The major factors that influence  PNOI are occupancy  levels,  acquisitions  and
sales,  development properties that achieve stabilized  operations,  rental rate
increases  or  decreases,  and the  recoverability  of operating  expenses.  The
Company's success depends largely upon its ability to lease space and to recover
from tenants the operating costs associated with those leases.
     Real estate income is comprised of rental income,  pass-through  income and
other real estate income including lease  termination fees.  Property  operating
expenses  are  comprised of property  taxes,  insurance,  utilities,  repair and
maintenance  expenses,  management  fees,  other  operating  costs  and bad debt
expense.  Generally,  the  Company's  most  significant  operating  expenses are
property taxes and insurance. Tenant leases may be net leases in which the total
operating  expenses are recoverable,  modified gross leases in which some of the
operating  expenses  are  recoverable,  or gross leases in which no expenses are
recoverable  (gross leases represent only a small portion of the Company's total
leases).  Increases in property  operating  expenses are fully recoverable under
net leases  and  recoverable  to a high  degree  under  modified  gross  leases.
Modified gross leases often include base year amounts and expense increases over
these  amounts are  recoverable.  The Company's  exposure to property  operating
expenses is primarily due to vacancies and leases for occupied  space that limit
the amount of expenses that can be recovered.
     The Company believes FFO is a meaningful  supplemental measure of operating
performance for equity REITs. The Company  believes that excluding  depreciation
and  amortization  in the  calculation of FFO is  appropriate  since real estate
values have historically increased or decreased based on market conditions.  FFO
is not considered as an alternative to net income (determined in accordance with

                                       13



GAAP) as an  indication  of the  Company's  financial  performance,  nor is it a
measure of the Company's  liquidity or indicative of funds  available to provide
for the Company's cash needs,  including its ability to make distributions.  The
Company's key drivers  affecting  FFO are changes in PNOI (as discussed  above),
interest  rates,  the amount of  leverage  the  Company  employs and general and
administrative  expense. The following table presents on a comparative basis for
the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008  reconciliations  of PNOI and FFO
Available  to  Common  Stockholders  to Net  Income  Attributable  to  EastGroup
Properties, Inc.


                                                                                                 Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                                                               --------------------------------
                                                                                                   2009               2008
                                                                                               --------------------------------
                                                                                                        (In thousands)
                                                                                                                 
Income from real estate operations..............................................                $     43,310          40,079
Expenses from real estate operations............................................                     (12,591)        (10,839)
                                                                                               --------------------------------
PROPERTY NET OPERATING INCOME...................................................                      30,719          29,240

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investment (before depreciation)...........                         114             113
Income from discontinued operations (before depreciation and amortization)......                           -             125
Interest income.................................................................                         124              37
Gain on sales of securities.....................................................                           -             435
Other income....................................................................                          15             195
Interest expense................................................................                      (7,501)         (7,373)
General and administrative expense..............................................                      (2,561)         (2,081)
Noncontrolling interest in earnings (before depreciation and amortization)......                        (214)           (205)
Gain on sale of non-operating real estate.......................................                           8               7
Dividends on Series D preferred shares..........................................                           -            (656)
                                                                                               --------------------------------

FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS..........................                      20,704          19,837
Depreciation and amortization from continuing operations........................                     (13,044)        (12,375)
Depreciation and amortization from discontinued operations......................                           -             (43)
Depreciation from unconsolidated investment.....................................                         (33)            (33)
Noncontrolling interest depreciation and amortization...........................                          51              49
                                                                                               --------------------------------

NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.
   COMMON STOCKHOLDERS..........................................................                       7,678           7,435
Dividends on preferred shares...................................................                           -             656
                                                                                               --------------------------------

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC............................                $      7,678           8,091
                                                                                               ================================

Net income available to common stockholders per diluted share...................                $        .31             .31
Funds from operations available to common stockholders per diluted share........                         .83             .83

Diluted shares for earnings per share and funds from operations.................                      25,070          23,829



The Company analyzes the following performance trends in evaluating the progress
of the Company:

o    The FFO change per share  represents  the  increase  or decrease in FFO per
     share from the same quarter in the current year compared to the prior year.
     FFO per share for the first quarter of 2009 was $.83 per share, the same as
     the  first  quarter  of 2008.  Excluding  gain on sales  of  securities  of
     $435,000  and gain on  involuntary  conversion  of  $175,000  in the  first
     quarter of 2008, FFO increased by 2.5% over the first quarter of 2008. PNOI
     increased  5.1% primarily due to additional  PNOI of $1,787,000  from newly
     developed  properties  and  $414,000  from 2008  acquisitions,  offset by a
     decrease of $745,000 from same property growth.

o    Same property net operating  income change  represents the PNOI increase or
     decrease for operating  properties  owned during the entire  current period
     and prior year reporting period.  PNOI from same properties  decreased 2.6%
     for the first  quarter of 2009 as compared to the same  quarter  last year.
     Occupancy for same properties decreased from 94.4% to 93.1%.

o    Occupancy is the  percentage of leased  square  footage for which the lease
     term has commenced as compared to the total  leasable  square footage as of
     the close of the reporting period.  Occupancy at March 31, 2009, was 92.8%.
     Quarter-end occupancy ranged from 92.8% to 95.0% over the period from March
     31, 2008 to March 31, 2009.

o    Rental rate change  represents  the rental rate increase or decrease on new
     and renewal leases  compared to the prior leases on the same space.  Rental
     rate  decreases on new and renewal  leases  (5.0% of total square  footage)
     averaged 5.0% for the first quarter of 2009.

                                       14



CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

     The Company's  management  considers the following  accounting policies and
estimates to be critical to the reported operations of the Company.

Real Estate Properties
     The Company  allocates  the purchase  price of acquired  properties  to net
tangible and identified intangible assets based on their respective fair values.
Factors  considered  by  management  in  allocating  the cost of the  properties
acquired  include an estimate of carrying  costs  during the  expected  lease-up
periods  considering  current  market  conditions  and costs to execute  similar
leases.  The allocation to tangible assets (land,  building and improvements) is
based upon management's determination of the value of the property as if it were
vacant  using  discounted  cash flow models.  The  remaining  purchase  price is
allocated among three categories of intangible assets consisting of the above or
below market component of in-place leases,  the value of in-place leases and the
value of  customer  relationships.  The  value  allocable  to the above or below
market  component of an acquired  in-place  lease is  determined  based upon the
present value (using a discount rate which  reflects the risks  associated  with
the acquired leases) of the difference between (i) the contractual amounts to be
paid  pursuant  to the  lease  over its  remaining  term  and (ii)  management's
estimate  of the  amounts  that would be paid using fair  market  rates over the
remaining  term of the lease.  The amounts  allocated  to above and below market
leases are included in Other Assets and Other Liabilities,  respectively, on the
Consolidated  Balance  Sheets  and are  amortized  to  rental  income  over  the
remaining terms of the respective  leases. The total amount of intangible assets
is further  allocated  to in-place  lease  values and to  customer  relationship
values based upon  management's  assessment of their  respective  values.  These
intangible  assets are  included  in Other  Assets on the  Consolidated  Balance
Sheets and are amortized over the remaining term of the existing  lease,  or the
anticipated life of the customer relationship, as applicable.
     During  the  period  in  which  a  property  is  under  development,  costs
associated with development (i.e., land,  construction costs,  interest expense,
property taxes and other direct and indirect costs associated with  development)
are aggregated  into the total  capitalized  costs of the property.  Included in
these costs are  management's  estimates  for the  portions  of  internal  costs
(primarily  personnel  costs) that are deemed directly or indirectly  related to
such development activities.
     The Company  reviews its real estate  investments  for  impairment of value
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of
an asset may not be  recoverable.  If any real estate  investment  is considered
permanently  impaired,  a loss is recorded to reduce the  carrying  value of the
property to its estimated fair value. Real estate assets to be sold are reported
at the lower of the  carrying  amount or fair  value  less  selling  costs.  The
evaluation  of real estate  investments  involves  many  subjective  assumptions
dependent  upon future  economic  events that affect the  ultimate  value of the
property.  Currently,  the Company's  management is not aware of any  impairment
issues nor has it experienced any significant impairment issues in recent years.
EastGroup  currently  has the  intent  and  ability  to  hold  its  real  estate
investments and to hold its land inventory for future development.  In the event
of impairment, the property's basis would be reduced and the impairment would be
recognized as a current period charge on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Valuation of Receivables
     The  Company is  subject to tenant  defaults  and  bankruptcies  that could
affect the  collection of  outstanding  receivables.  In order to mitigate these
risks, the Company  performs credit reviews and analyses on prospective  tenants
before  significant  leases are  executed.  On a  quarterly  basis,  the Company
evaluates  outstanding  receivables  and  estimates  the  allowance for doubtful
accounts.   Management   specifically   analyzes  aged   receivables,   customer
credit-worthiness,  historical  bad  debts  and  current  economic  trends  when
evaluating  the adequacy of the  allowance  for doubtful  accounts.  The Company
believes  that  its  allowance  for  doubtful   accounts  is  adequate  for  its
outstanding  receivables  for the  periods  presented.  In the  event  that  the
allowance  for  doubtful  accounts  is  insufficient  for  an  account  that  is
subsequently  written off,  additional bad debt expense would be recognized as a
current period charge on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Tax Status
     EastGroup,  a  Maryland  corporation,   has  qualified  as  a  real  estate
investment trust under Sections 856-860 of the Internal Revenue Code and intends
to continue to qualify as such. To maintain its status as a REIT, the Company is
required  to  distribute  at least  90% of its  ordinary  taxable  income to its
stockholders.  The Company has the option of (i)  reinvesting the sales price of
properties  sold  through  tax-deferred  exchanges,  allowing  for a deferral of
capital  gains on the sale,  (ii) paying out capital  gains to the  stockholders
with no tax to the Company,  or (iii)  treating the capital gains as having been
distributed to the stockholders,  paying the tax on the gain deemed  distributed
and  allocating  the tax  paid as a  credit  to the  stockholders.  The  Company
distributed  all of its 2008 taxable income to its  stockholders  and expects to
distribute  all of its taxable  income in 2009.  Accordingly,  no provision  for
income taxes was necessary in 2008, nor is it expected to be necessary for 2009.

                                       15



FINANCIAL CONDITION
     EastGroup's  assets were  $1,162,086,000  at March 31, 2009, an increase of
$5,881,000  from  December  31,  2008.   Liabilities  increased  $10,346,000  to
$753,175,000  and equity  decreased  $4,465,000 to $408,911,000  during the same
period. The paragraphs that follow explain these changes in detail.

ASSETS

Real Estate Properties
     Real estate properties increased  $14,757,000 during the three months ended
March  31,  2009,   primarily  due  to  the  transfer  of  two  properties  from
development, as detailed under Development below.
     The Company  made  capital  improvements  of  $3,515,000  on  existing  and
acquired properties (included in the Capital Expenditures table under Results of
Operations).  Also,  the Company  incurred  costs of $1,061,000  on  development
properties subsequent to transfer to Real Estate Properties; the Company records
these  expenditures as development costs on the Consolidated  Statements of Cash
Flows during the 12-month period following transfer.

Development
     The investment in development at March 31, 2009, was $151,438,000  compared
to  $150,354,000  at December 31, 2008.  Total capital  invested for development
during the first three months of 2009 was $12,327,000,  which consisted of costs
of  $11,266,000  as  detailed  in the  development  activity  table and costs of
$1,061,000 on  developments  transferred  to Real Estate  Properties  during the
12-month period following transfer.
     The Company  transferred two developments to Real Estate  Properties during
the first quarter of 2009 with a total  investment of $10,182,000 as of the date
of transfer.


                                                                                        Costs Incurred
                                                                         ----------------------------------------------
                                                                            Costs             For the       Cumulative
                                                                         Transferred       Three Months        as of      Estimated
DEVELOPMENT                                                 Size          in 2009 (1)      Ended 3/31/09      3/31/09    Total Costs
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        (Square feet)                              (In thousands)
                                                                                                              
LEASE-UP
  Beltway Crossing VI, Houston, TX....................       128,000     $       -               149            5,756        6,700
  Oak Creek VI,  Tampa, FL............................        89,000             -                42            5,629        6,100
  Southridge VIII, Orlando, FL........................        91,000             -               270            6,271        6,900
  Techway SW IV, Houston, TX..........................        94,000             -               365            5,208        6,400
  SunCoast III, Fort Myers, FL........................        93,000             -               136            6,854        8,400
  Sky Harbor, Phoenix, AZ.............................       264,000             -               401           23,230       25,100
  World Houston 26, Houston, TX.......................        59,000             -               151            2,969        3,600
  12th Street Distribution Center, Jacksonville, FL...       150,000             -               104            4,954        5,300
  Beltway Crossing VII, Houston, TX...................        95,000             -               320            4,533        5,900
  Country Club III & IV, Tucson, AZ...................       138,000             -             1,453            9,500       11,200
  Oak Creek IX,  Tampa, FL............................        86,000             -               567            4,767        5,500
                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Lease-up........................................     1,287,000             -             3,958           79,671       91,100
                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
  Blue Heron III, West Palm Beach, FL.................        20,000             -               525            2,423        2,600
  World Houston 28, Houston, TX.......................        59,000             -             1,814            4,194        4,900
  World Houston 29, Houston, TX.......................        70,000             -             1,982            3,868        4,800
  World Houston 30, Houston, TX.......................        88,000             -             2,423            4,014        5,800
                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Under Construction..............................       237,000             -             6,744           14,499       18,100
                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

PROSPECTIVE DEVELOPMENT (PRIMARILY LAND)
  Tucson, AZ..........................................        70,000             -                 -              417        3,500
  Tampa, FL...........................................       249,000             -              (128)           3,762       14,600
  Orlando, FL.........................................     1,254,000             -               235           14,688       78,700
  Fort Myers, FL......................................       659,000             -               (69)          14,945       48,100
  Dallas, TX..........................................        70,000             -                16              586        5,000
  El Paso, TX.........................................       251,000             -                 -            2,444        9,600
  Houston, TX.........................................     1,064,000             -               334           13,120       68,100
  San Antonio, TX.....................................       595,000             -               145            5,584       37,500
  Charlotte, NC.......................................        95,000             -                21            1,016        7,100
  Jackson, MS.........................................        28,000             -                 -              706        2,000
                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Prospective Development.........................     4,335,000             -               554           57,268      274,200
                                                        ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           5,859,000     $       -            11,256          151,438      383,400
                                                        ============================================================================


                                       16





                                                                                        Costs Incurred
                                                                         ----------------------------------------------
                                                                            Costs             For the       Cumulative
                                                                         Transferred       Three Months        as of      Estimated
DEVELOPMENT                                                 Size          in 2009 (1)      Ended 3/31/09      3/31/09    Total Costs
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        (Square feet)                              (In thousands)
                                                                                                              
DEVELOPMENTS COMPLETED AND TRANSFERRED
TO REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES DURING 2009
  40th Avenue Distribution Center, Phoenix, AZ........        90,000     $       -                 -            6,539
  Wetmore II, Building B, San Antonio, TX.............        55,000             -                10            3,643
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------------
Total Transferred to Real Estate Properties...........       145,000     $       -                10           10,182 (2)
                                                        ==============================================================


(1)  Represents costs transferred from Prospective  Development (primarily land)
     to Under Construction during the period.
(2)  Represents cumulative costs at the date of transfer.

     Accumulated  depreciation on real estate properties  increased  $10,898,000
during the first three months of 2009 due to depreciation expense on real estate
properties.
     A  summary  of Other  Assets  is  presented  in Note 8 in the  Notes to the
Consolidated Financial Statements.

LIABILITIES

     Mortgage notes payable decreased  $35,834,000 during the three months ended
March 31, 2009,  as a result of the  repayment  of one mortgage of  $31,357,000,
regularly  scheduled  principal payments of $4,447,000 and mortgage loan premium
amortization of $30,000. In addition, on January 2, 2009, the Company's mortgage
note  payable  of  $9,365,000  on the Tower  Automotive  Center  was  repaid and
replaced with another  mortgage note payable for the same amount.  See Liquidity
and Capital Resources for further discussion of this mortgage note.
     Notes payable to banks increased  $54,323,000 during the three months ended
March 31, 2009, as a result of advances of $80,267,000  exceeding  repayments of
$25,944,000.  The Company's  credit  facilities  are described in greater detail
under Liquidity and Capital Resources.
     See Note 9 in the  Notes to the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  for a
summary of Accounts  Payable and Accrued  Expenses.  See Note 10 in the Notes to
the Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of Other Liabilities.

EQUITY

     Distributions  in excess of earnings  increased  $5,399,000  as a result of
dividends  on common stock of  $13,077,000  exceeding  net income for  financial
reporting  purposes of $7,678,000.  See Note 14 in the Notes to the Consolidated
Financial  Statements  for  information  related to the  changes  in  additional
paid-in capital resulting from stock-based compensation.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
(Comments  are for the three months ended March 31, 2009,  compared to the three
months ended March 31, 2008.)

     Net income  available  to common  stockholders  for the three  months ended
March 31, 2009,  was $7,678,000  ($.31 per basic and diluted share)  compared to
$7,435,000 ($.31 per basic and diluted share) for the same period in 2008.
     PNOI  increased by  $1,479,000,  or 5.1%,  for the first quarter of 2009 as
compared to the same period in 2008. The increase was primarily  attributable to
$1,787,000 from newly developed  properties and $414,000 from 2008 acquisitions,
offset by a decrease of $745,000 from same property growth. The Company recorded
gains on sales of securities of $435,000 and a gain on an involuntary conversion
of $175,000 during the first quarter of 2008.
     Expense to revenue  ratios were 29.1% for the three  months ended March 31,
2009,  compared to 27.0% for the same period in 2008. The increase was primarily
due to increased  bad debt expense and lower  occupancy in the first  quarter of
2009 as compared to the same period last year. The Company's  percentages leased
and occupied were 93.4% and 92.8%, respectively,  at March 31, 2009, compared to
94.9% and 94.4%, respectively, at March 31, 2008.
     General and administrative  expense increased $480,000 for the three months
ended March 31, 2009,  as compared to the same period in 2008.  The increase was
primarily  attributable to a decrease in capitalized  development costs due to a
slowdown in the Company's development program.
     The following  table  presents the  components of interest  expense for the
three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008:

                                       17





                                                                                        Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                                                       -----------------------------    Increase/
                                                                                            2009            2008        Decrease
                                                                                       -------------------------------------------
                                                                                         (In thousands, except rates of interest)
                                                                                                                  
Average bank borrowings.........................................................        $   133,523         151,906      (18,383)
Weighted average variable interest rates (excluding loan cost amortization).....              1.47%           4.54%

VARIABLE RATE INTEREST EXPENSE
Variable rate interest (excluding loan cost amortization).......................        $       482           1,716       (1,234)
Amortization of bank loan costs.................................................                 74              74            -
                                                                                       -------------------------------------------
Total variable rate interest expense............................................                556           1,790       (1,234)
                                                                                       -------------------------------------------

FIXED RATE INTEREST EXPENSE
Fixed rate interest (excluding loan cost amortization)..........................              8,401           7,135        1,266
Amortization of mortgage loan costs.............................................                195             153           42
                                                                                       -------------------------------------------
Total fixed rate interest expense...............................................              8,596           7,288        1,308
                                                                                       -------------------------------------------

Total interest..................................................................              9,152           9,078           74
Less capitalized interest.......................................................             (1,651)         (1,705)          54
                                                                                       -------------------------------------------

TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE..........................................................        $     7,501           7,373          128
                                                                                       ===========================================


     Interest costs incurred  during the period of  construction  of real estate
properties are capitalized and offset against  interest  expense.  The Company's
weighted  average  variable  interest  rates and average bank  borrowings in the
first three months of 2009 were lower than in 2008, thereby decreasing  variable
rate interest expense.
     The increase in mortgage  interest expense in 2009 was primarily due to the
Company's new mortgages detailed in the table below.


                                                                            INTEREST                      MATURITY
     NEW MORTGAGES IN 2008 AND 2009                                           RATE          DATE            DATE           AMOUNT
     -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                
     Beltway II, III & IV, Eastlake, Fairgrounds I-IV, Nations
       Ford I-IV, Techway Southwest III, Westinghouse,
       Wetmore I-IV and World Houston 15 & 22.......................         5.500%        03/19/08       04/05/15     $  78,000,000
     Southridge XII, Airport Commerce Center I & II,
        Interchange Park, Ridge Creek III, World Houston
        24, 25 & 27 and Waterford Distribution Center...............         5.750%        12/09/08       01/05/14        59,000,000
     Tower Automotive Center (1)....................................         6.030%        01/02/09       01/15/11         9,365,000
                                                                          -----------                                  -------------
       Weighted Average/Total Amount................................         5.635%                                    $ 146,365,000
                                                                          ===========                                  =============


(1)  The  Company  repaid the  previous  mortgage  note on the Tower  Automotive
     Center and replaced it with this new mortgage note for the same amount. See
     the table below for details on the previous mortgage.

     These increases were offset by regularly  scheduled  principal payments and
the repayments of two mortgages in 2009 as shown in the following table:


                                                                   INTEREST          DATE            PAYOFF
     MORTGAGE LOANS REPAID IN 2009                                   RATE           REPAID           AMOUNT
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                               
     Tower Automotive Center (1).............................       8.020%         01/02/09    $    9,365,000
     Dominguez, Kingsview, Walnut, Washington, Industry
       Distribution Center I and Shaw........................       6.800%         02/13/09        31,357,000
                                                                  ----------                   ---------------
       Weighted Average/Total Amount.........................       7.081%                     $   40,722,000
                                                                  ==========                   ===============


(1)  The Tower  Automotive  Center mortgage was repaid and replaced with another
     mortgage note payable for the same amount. See the new mortgage detailed in
     the new mortgages table above.

     Depreciation and amortization for continuing  operations increased $669,000
for the three  months  ended March 31,  2009,  as compared to the same period in
2008. This increase was primarily due to properties transferred from development
during 2008 and 2009 and properties acquired during the first quarter of 2008.
     NAREIT has recommended  supplemental  disclosures concerning  straight-line
rent,  capital  expenditures  and  leasing  costs.  Straight-lining  of rent for
continuing  operations  increased income by $66,000 in the first quarter of 2009
compared to $280,000 in the same period of 2008.

                                       18



Capital Expenditures
     Capital  expenditures  for operating  properties for the three months ended
March 31, 2009 and 2008 were as follows:


                                                                      Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                       Estimated     ------------------------------
                                                      Useful Life        2009              2008
                                                    -----------------------------------------------
                                                                             (In thousands)
                                                                                    
        Upgrade on Acquisitions................         40 yrs       $       -                31
        Tenant Improvements:
           New Tenants.........................       Lease Life         1,375             2,088
           New Tenants (first generation) (1)..       Lease Life            60                 3
           Renewal Tenants.....................       Lease Life           284               512
        Other:
           Building Improvements...............        5-40 yrs            810               182
           Roofs...............................        5-15 yrs            696               108
           Parking Lots........................         3-5 yrs             64               538
           Other...............................          5 yrs             226                71
                                                                     ------------------------------
              Total capital expenditures.......                      $   3,515             3,533
                                                                     ==============================


(1)  First  generation  refers  to space  that has  never  been  occupied  under
     EastGroup's ownership.

Capitalized Leasing Costs
     The Company's leasing costs  (principally  commissions) are capitalized and
included  in Other  Assets.  The  costs  are  amortized  over  the  terms of the
associated  leases and are included in depreciation  and  amortization  expense.
Capitalized  leasing  costs for the three  months  ended March 31, 2009 and 2008
were as follows:


                                                                      Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                       Estimated     ------------------------------
                                                      Useful Life        2009              2008
                                                    -----------------------------------------------
                                                                             (In thousands)
                                                                                    
        Development............................       Lease Life     $     344               833
        New Tenants............................       Lease Life           487               471
        New Tenants (first generation) (1).....       Lease Life             4                 7
        Renewal Tenants........................       Lease Life           780               239
                                                                     ------------------------------
              Total capitalized leasing costs..                      $   1,615             1,550
                                                                     ==============================

        Amortization of leasing costs (2)......                      $   1,580             1,454
                                                                     ==============================


(1)  First  generation  refers  to space  that has  never  been  occupied  under
     EastGroup's ownership.
(2)  Includes discontinued operations.

Discontinued Operations
     The results of operations,  including interest expense (if applicable), for
the operating  properties sold or held for sale during the periods  reported are
shown under  Discontinued  Operations on the Consolidated  Statements of Income.
The  following  table  presents  the  components  of revenue and expense for the
properties  sold or held for sale during the three  months  ended March 31, 2009
and 2008.  There were no sales of  properties  during the first three  months of
2009 or 2008;  however,  the Company has  reclassified  the  operations of North
Stemmons I and Delp  Distribution  Center III,  which were sold during 2008,  to
Discontinued Operations as shown in the following table.


                                                                     Three Months Ended March 31,
                                                                    ------------------------------
Discontinued Operations                                                2009                2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                            (In thousands)
                                                                                      
Income from real estate operations...............................   $       -               167
Expenses from real estate operations.............................           -               (42)
                                                                    ------------------------------
  Property net operating income from discontinued operations.....           -               125

Depreciation and amortization....................................           -               (43)
                                                                    ------------------------------

Income from real estate operations...............................   $       -                82
                                                                    ==============================


                                       19



RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

     The Financial  Accounting  Standards Board (FASB) deferred for one year the
fair  value  measurement  requirements  contained  in SFAS No.  157,  Fair Value
Measurements,  for nonfinancial  assets and liabilities that are not required or
permitted to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis.  These  provisions,
which are included in FASB Staff  Position  (FSP) FAS 157-2,  were effective for
fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. The adoption of these provisions
in 2009 had an immaterial impact on the Company's overall financial position and
results of operations.
     In December  2007,  the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (Revised  2007),  Business
Combinations,  which retains the  fundamental  requirements  in SFAS No. 141 and
requires the identifiable  assets  acquired,  the liabilities  assumed,  and any
noncontrolling  interest  in the  acquiree  be  measured at fair value as of the
acquisition  date.  In  addition,  Statement  141R  requires  that any  goodwill
acquired in the business combination be measured as a residual,  and it provides
guidance in  determining  what  information  to disclose to enable  users of the
financial  statements  to  evaluate  the  nature  and  financial  effects of the
business combination. The Statement also requires that acquisition-related costs
be recognized as expenses in the periods in which the costs are incurred and the
services  are  received.   SFAS  No.  141R  applies  prospectively  to  business
combinations  for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the
first  annual  reporting  period  beginning on or after  December 15, 2008.  The
adoption of Statement  141R in 2009 had an  immaterial  impact on the  Company's
overall financial position and results of operations.
     Also in  December  2007,  the  FASB  issued  SFAS No.  160,  Noncontrolling
Interests  in  Consolidated  Financial  Statements,  which  is an  amendment  of
Accounting  Research  Bulletin (ARB) No. 51. Statement 160 provides guidance for
entities that prepare consolidated financial statements that have an outstanding
noncontrolling  interest in one or more  subsidiaries  or that  deconsolidate  a
subsidiary.  SFAS No. 160 was effective for fiscal  years,  and interim  periods
within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The adoption
of  Statement  160 in 2009 had an  immaterial  impact on the  Company's  overall
financial position and results of operations.
     In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161,  Disclosures  About Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities,  which is an amendment of FASB Statement No.
133. SFAS No. 161 requires all entities with derivative  instruments to disclose
information regarding how and why the entity uses derivative instruments and how
derivative  instruments  and related hedged items affect the entity's  financial
position,  financial  performance,  and cash flows. The Company adopted SFAS No.
161 on January 1, 2009.
     During 2008,  the FASB issued FSP FAS 142-3,  which amends the factors that
should be  considered  in developing  renewal or extension  assumptions  used to
determine the useful life of a recognized  intangible asset under FASB Statement
No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible  Assets. FSP FAS 142-3 requires an entity
to disclose  information  that enables  financial  statement users to assess the
extent to which the  expected  future cash flows  associated  with the asset are
affected  by  the  entity's  intent  and/or  ability  to  renew  or  extend  the
arrangement.  The intent of this Staff  Position is to improve  the  consistency
between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under Statement 142 and
the period of  expected  cash flows used to measure  the fair value of the asset
under Statement 141R and other U.S.  generally accepted  accounting  principles.
FSP FAS 142-3 was  effective for  financial  statements  issued for fiscal years
beginning  after  December 15,  2008,  and interim  periods  within those fiscal
years.  The  adoption of FSP FAS 142-3 in 2009 had an  immaterial  impact on the
Company's overall financial position and results of operations.
     Also in 2008,  the  Emerging  Issues  Task Force  (EITF)  issued EITF 08-6,
Equity  Method  Investment  Accounting  Considerations,  which  applies  to  all
investments  accounted for under the equity method and clarifies the  accounting
for  certain   transactions  and  impairment   considerations   involving  those
investments.  EITF 08-6 was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal
years  beginning on or after December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those
fiscal years. The adoption of EITF 08-6 in 2009 had an immaterial  impact on the
Company's overall financial position and results of operations.
     In April 2009,  the FASB issued FSP FAS 107-1,  which  amends SFAS No. 107,
Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial  Instruments,  to require  disclosures
about fair value of  financial  instruments  for  interim  reporting  periods of
publicly traded  companies as well as in annual financial  statements.  This FSP
also  amends  Accounting  Principles  Board  (APB)  No.  28,  Interim  Financial
Reporting,  to require those disclosures in summarized financial  information at
interim  reporting  periods.  FSP FAS 107-1 is effective  for interim  reporting
periods  ending  after  June 15,  2009,  and the  Company  anticipates  that the
adoption of this FSP will have an  immaterial  impact on the  Company's  overall
financial position and results of operations.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

     Net cash provided by operating  activities  was  $17,995,000  for the three
months ended March 31, 2009.  The primary  other  sources of cash were from bank
borrowings and mortgage note proceeds.  The Company  distributed  $13,098,000 in
common stock  dividends  during the three  months  ended March 31,  2009.  Other
primary uses of cash were for mortgage note  repayments,  bank debt  repayments,
construction and development of properties,  and capital improvements at various
properties.
     Total debt at March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 is detailed  below.  The
Company's bank credit  facilities have certain  restrictive  covenants,  such as
maintaining debt service coverage and leverage ratios and maintaining  insurance
coverage,  and the Company was in compliance  with all of its debt  covenants at
March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008.

                                       20




                                                          March 31, 2009    December 31, 2008
                                                         -------------------------------------
                                                                     (In thousands)
                                                                               
        Mortgage notes payable - fixed rate.........      $       549,972            585,806
        Bank notes payable - floating rate..........              164,209            109,886
                                                         -------------------------------------
           Total debt...............................      $       714,181            695,692
                                                         =====================================


     The  Company has a  four-year,  $200  million  unsecured  revolving  credit
facility with a group of seven banks that matures in January 2012.  The interest
rate on the  facility is based on the LIBOR index and varies  according to total
liability to total asset value ratios (as defined in the credit agreement), with
an annual  facility  fee of 15 to 20 basis  points.  The  interest  rate on each
tranche is usually reset on a monthly basis and is currently LIBOR plus 70 basis
points with an annual facility fee of 20 basis points. The line of credit has an
option for a one-year extension at the Company's request. Additionally, there is
a provision under which the line may be expanded by $100 million contingent upon
obtaining  increased  commitments  from  existing  lenders or  commitments  from
additional  lenders.  At March 31, 2009, the weighted  average interest rate was
1.230% on a balance of  $162,000,000.  At May 6, 2009,  the  Company's  weighted
average interest rate was 1.143% on a balance of $92,000,000. The Company had an
additional $108,000,000 remaining on this line of credit on May 6, 2009.
     The Company also has a four-year,  $25 million  unsecured  revolving credit
facility with PNC Bank,  N.A. that matures in January 2012. This credit facility
is customarily used for working capital needs. The interest rate on this working
cash line is based on the LIBOR index and varies according to total liability to
total  asset  value  ratios (as  defined in the  credit  agreement).  Under this
facility, the Company's current interest rate is LIBOR plus 75 basis points with
no annual  facility  fee. At March 31, 2009,  the interest  rate was 1.251% on a
balance of $2,209,000. At May 6, 2009, the interest rate was 1.145% on a balance
of $4,363,000.  The Company had an additional $20,637,000 remaining on this line
of credit on May 6, 2009.
     The  current  economic  situation  is  impacting  lenders,  and it is  more
difficult to obtain  financing.  Loan proceeds as a percentage of property value
is decreasing, and long-term interest rates are increasing. The Company believes
that its current lines of credit  provide the capacity to fund the operations of
the Company for the  remainder of 2009 and 2010.  The Company also believes that
it  can  obtain  mortgage  financing  from  insurance  companies  and  financial
institutions. In March 2009, EastGroup executed an application on a $67 million,
limited  recourse  first  mortgage  loan secured by  properties  containing  1.7
million square feet.  The loan has a recourse  liability of $5 million which may
be released based on the secured properties obtaining certain base rent amounts.
The loan closed on May 5, 2009, and has a fixed interest rate of 7.5%, a 10-year
term and a 20-year amortization  schedule. The Company used the proceeds of this
mortgage loan to reduce variable rate bank borrowings.
     As market conditions permit,  EastGroup issues equity,  including preferred
equity,  and/or employs fixed-rate first mortgage debt to replace the short-term
bank borrowings.
     On January 2, 2009,  the mortgage  note payable of  $9,365,000 on the Tower
Automotive Center was repaid and replaced with another mortgage note payable for
the same amount. The previous recourse mortgage was a variable rate demand note,
and  EastGroup  had entered into a swap  agreement to fix the LIBOR rate. In the
fourth  quarter of 2008,  the bond spread over LIBOR  required to re-market  the
notes  increased  from a historical  range of 3 to 25 basis points to a range of
100 to 500  basis  points.  Due to the  volatility  of the  bond  spread  costs,
EastGroup redeemed the note and replaced it with a recourse mortgage with a bank
on the same payment terms except for the interest rate.  The effective  interest
rate on the  previous  note was 5.30% until the fourth  quarter of 2008 when the
weighted average rate was 8.02%.  The effective rate on the new note,  including
the swap, is 6.03%.
     The Company  anticipates  that its current  cash  balance,  operating  cash
flows,  borrowings  under its lines of credit,  proceeds  from new mortgage debt
and/or proceeds from the issuance of equity instruments will be adequate for (i)
operating  and  administrative  expenses,  (ii)  normal  repair and  maintenance
expenses at its properties,  (iii) debt service obligations,  (iv) distributions
to stockholders,  (v) capital improvements,  (vi) purchases of properties, (vii)
development,  and (viii) any other normal  business  activities  of the Company,
both in the short- and long-term.

Contractual Obligations
     EastGroup's fixed,  noncancelable  obligations as of December 31, 2008, did
not materially  change during the three months ended March 31, 2009,  except for
the  decrease in mortgage  notes  payable  and the  increase in bank  borrowings
discussed above.

INFLATION AND OTHER ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS

     Most  of  the  Company's   leases   include   scheduled   rent   increases.
Additionally,  most of the Company's leases require the tenants to pay their pro
rata share of operating  expenses,  including  real estate taxes,  insurance and
common area maintenance, thereby reducing the Company's exposure to increases in
operating expenses resulting from inflation.
     EastGroup's  financial results are affected by general economic  conditions
in the  markets in which the  Company's  properties  are  located.  An  economic
recession,  or other adverse  changes in general or local  economic  conditions,
could result in the inability of some of the Company's  existing tenants to make
lease  payments and may impact our ability to (i) renew leases or re-lease space
as leases expire,  or (ii) lease  development  space.  In addition,  an economic
downturn or recession could also lead to an increase in overall vacancy rates or
decline in rents we can charge to re-lease properties upon expiration of current
leases. In all of these cases, our cash flow would be adversely affected.

                                       21



ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

     The Company is exposed to interest  rate  changes  primarily as a result of
its lines of credit and long-term debt maturities. This debt is used to maintain
liquidity and fund capital  expenditures  and  expansion of the  Company's  real
estate investment portfolio and operations. The Company's objective for interest
rate risk management is to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings
and cash  flows  and to lower  its  overall  borrowing  costs.  To  achieve  its
objectives,  the Company  borrows at fixed  rates but also has several  variable
rate bank lines as discussed  under Liquidity and Capital  Resources.  The table
below presents the principal  payments due and weighted  average  interest rates
for both the fixed rate and variable rate debt.


                                        Apr-Dec
                                         2009        2010      2011       2012      2013    Thereafter     Total      Fair Value
                                       ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   
Fixed rate debt (1) (in thousands).... $  13,150    18,185    84,971     62,117    53,232     318,317     549,972     516,649 (2)
Weighted average interest rate........     5.95%     5.89%     7.00%      6.61%     5.06%       5.63%       5.91%
Variable rate debt (in thousands)..... $       -         -         -    164,209         -           -     164,209     150,848 (3)
Weighted average interest rate........         -         -         -      1.23%         -           -       1.23%


(1)  The fixed rate debt shown above includes the Tower Automotive mortgage. See
     below for additional information on the Tower mortgage.
(2)  The fair value of the Company's  fixed rate debt is estimated  based on the
     quoted market  prices for similar  issues or by  discounting  expected cash
     flows at the rates  currently  offered to the  Company for debt of the same
     remaining maturities, as advised by the Company's bankers.
(3)  The  fair  value  of the  Company's  variable  rate  debt is  estimated  by
     discounting expected cash flows at current market rates.

     As the table above  incorporates  only those  exposures  that existed as of
March 31, 2009,  it does not consider  those  exposures or positions  that could
arise after that date.  If the weighted  average  interest  rate on the variable
rate bank debt as shown above changes by 10% or  approximately  12 basis points,
interest  expense  and cash flows would  increase  or decrease by  approximately
$202,000 annually.
     The Company has an interest  rate swap  agreement  to hedge its exposure to
the variable  interest rate on the Company's  $9,365,000 Tower Automotive Center
recourse  mortgage,  which is  summarized  in the  table  below.  Under the swap
agreement,  the Company  effectively pays a fixed rate of interest over the term
of the agreement  without the exchange of the underlying  notional amount.  This
swap is designated as a cash flow hedge and is considered to be fully  effective
in hedging the  variable  rate risk  associated  with the Tower  mortgage  loan.
Changes  in the  fair  value of the swap are  recognized  in  accumulated  other
comprehensive  loss.  The Company does not hold or issue this type of derivative
contract for trading or speculative purposes.


                       Current                                             Fixed
      Type of          Notional      Maturity                            Interest      Effective      Fair Value       Fair Value
       Hedge            Amount         Date         Reference Rate         Rate      Interest Rate    at 3/31/09       at 12/31/08
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    (In thousands)                                                                           (In thousands)
                                                                                                       
       Swap             $9,365       12/31/10        1 month LIBOR         4.03%         6.03%          ($492)           ($522)


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     Certain statements contained in this report may be deemed  "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private  Securities  Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes,"
"seeks,"  "estimates,"  variations  of such words and  similar  expressions  are
intended to identify such  forward-looking  statements,  which generally are not
historical in nature. All statements that address operating performance,  events
or  developments  that the  Company  expects  or  anticipates  will occur in the
future, including statements relating to rent and occupancy growth,  development
activity,  the  acquisition  or sale of  properties,  general  conditions in the
geographic areas where the Company operates and the availability of capital, are
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to
known and unknown  risks and  uncertainties,  many of which the  Company  cannot
predict, including, without limitation:  changes in general economic conditions;
the extent of tenant defaults or of any early lease terminations;  the Company's
ability to lease or re-lease space at current or anticipated  rents;  changes in
the supply of and  demand  for  industrial/warehouse  properties;  increases  in
interest  rate  levels;  increases  in  operating  costs;  the  availability  of
financing;  natural  disasters  and the  Company's  ability  to obtain  adequate
insurance;  changes in governmental  regulation,  tax rates and similar matters;
and other risks  associated  with the development and acquisition of properties,
including  risks that  development  projects  may not be  completed on schedule,
development  or  operating  costs  may be  greater  than  anticipated,  or  that
acquisitions may not close as scheduled,  and those additional factors discussed
under "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in this report and in the Company's  Annual Report
on Form 10-K.  Although the Company believes that the expectations  reflected in
the forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions at the time
made, the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will be achieved.
The Company  assumes no obligation  whatsoever to publicly  update or revise any
forward-looking  statements. See also the information contained in the Company's
reports filed or to be filed from time to time with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                                       22




ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

(i) Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

     The Company  carried out an evaluation,  under the supervision and with the
participation  of  the  Company's  management,  including  the  Company's  Chief
Executive  Officer and Chief  Financial  Officer,  of the  effectiveness  of the
design  and  operation  of the  Company's  disclosure  controls  and  procedures
pursuant to Exchange  Act Rule  13a-15.  Based upon that  evaluation,  the Chief
Executive  Officer and Chief Financial  Officer  concluded that, as of March 31,
2009, the Company's  disclosure controls and procedures were effective in timely
alerting them to material  information  relating to the Company  (including  its
consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in the Company's periodic SEC
filings.

(ii) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.

     There  was no change  in the  Company's  internal  control  over  financial
reporting  during the Company's  first fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2009, that
has  materially  affected,  or is reasonably  likely to materially  affect,  the
Company's internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.

     There  have been no  material  changes  to the risk  factors  disclosed  in
EastGroup's  Form  10-K  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2008.  For a full
description  of these risk  factors,  please refer to "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in
the 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers




                                  Total Number        Average           Total Number of Shares            Maximum Number of Shares
                                   of Shares        Price Paid       Purchased as Part of Publicly        That May Yet Be Purchased
               Period              Purchased         Per Share        Announced Plans or Programs        Under the Plans or Programs
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                         
       01/01/09 thru 01/31/09        3,607 (1)       $  35.58                            -                         672,300
       02/01/09 thru 02/28/09            -                  -                            -                         672,300
       03/01/09 thru 03/31/09           21 (1)          26.55                            -                         672,300 (2)
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total                         3,628           $  35.53                            -
                                 ===================================================================


(1)  As permitted under the Company's equity  compensation  plans,  these shares
     were withheld by the Company to satisfy the tax withholding obligations for
     those  employees who elected this option in connection  with the vesting of
     shares of restricted stock. Shares withheld for tax withholding obligations
     do not affect the total number of remaining shares available for repurchase
     under the Company's common stock repurchase plan.

(2)  EastGroup's  Board of Directors  has  authorized  the  repurchase  of up to
     1,500,000  shares  of its  outstanding  common  stock.  The  shares  may be
     purchased  from time to time in the open market or in privately  negotiated
     transactions.  Under the common  stock  repurchase  plan,  the  Company has
     purchased a total of 827,700 shares for  $14,170,000  (an average of $17.12
     per share) with 672,300 shares still authorized for repurchase. The Company
     has not repurchased any shares under this plan since 2000.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.

     (a)  Form 10-Q Exhibits:

          (31) Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a)  Certifications (pursuant to Section 302
               of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)

               (a)  David H. Hoster II, Chief Executive Officer

               (b)  N. Keith McKey, Chief Financial Officer

          (32) Section  1350  Certifications  (pursuant  to  Section  906 of the
               Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)

               (a)  David H. Hoster II, Chief Executive Officer

               (b)  N. Keith McKey, Chief Financial Officer

                                       23



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant  to the  requirements  of  Section  13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date:  May 8, 2009

                              EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.

                              By:  /s/ BRUCE CORKERN
                                  -------------------------
                              Bruce Corkern, CPA
                              Senior Vice President, Controller and
                              Chief Accounting Officer


                              By:  /s/ N. KEITH MCKEY
                                  -------------------------
                              N. Keith McKey, CPA
                              Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
                              Treasurer and Secretary


                                       24