<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000049600 <NAME> EASTGROUP PROPERTIES, INC. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <CASH> 3,679 <SECURITIES> 15,233 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 629,707 <DEPRECIATION> (47,462) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 626,707 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 229,486 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 108,633 <COMMON> 2 <OTHER-SE> 268,969 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 626,707 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 63,487 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 14,666 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 32,041 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 13,662 <INCOME-PRETAX> 0 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 32,433 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 418 <NET-INCOME> 32,015 <EPS-BASIC> 1.76 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.74