Exhibit (23)


            CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC.

We consent to the  incorporation  by  reference in the  registration  statements
(Nos.  333-29159 and  333-134959)  on Form S-3 and the  registration  statements
(Nos. 33-60909, 333-91405,  333-51666, 333-117308 and 333-125719) on Form S-8 of
EastGroup Properties,  Inc. of our reports dated February 27, 2007, with respect
to the consolidated balance sheets of EastGroup Properties,  Inc. as of December
31, 2006 and 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in
stockholders'  equity  and cash  flows for each of the  years in the  three-year
period ended  December  31, 2006,  and related  financial  statement  schedules,
management's  assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2006 and the effectiveness of internal control over
financial  reporting  as of  December  31,  2006,  which  reports  appear in the
December 31, 2006 annual report on Form 10-K of EastGroup Properties, Inc.

Our report  refers to a change in the  method of  accounting  for the  Company's
share-based payments as of January 1, 2006.

Jackson, Mississippi                       KPMG LLP
February 27, 2007

                                       63