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.  333-134959 and  333-144785) 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 26, 2009,  except for
the fourth  paragraph  of note 1(o) and note 19,  which are as of May 18,  2009,
with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of EastGroup Properties, Inc. as
of  December  31,  2008 and 2007,  and the related  consolidated  statements  of
income, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended  December 31, 2008,  which report  appears in the Current Report on
Form 8-K of EastGroup Properties, Inc. dated May 18, 2009.




                                              /s/ KPMG LLP


Jackson, Mississippi
May 18, 2009