<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET OF FEDERAL REALTY INVESTMENT TRUST AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND THE
RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER
30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                          13,726
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   20,585
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0<F1>
<PP&E>                                       1,804,186
<DEPRECIATION>                               (349,822)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,579,039
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0<F1>
<BONDS>                                        987,558
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                    100,000
<COMMON>                                       722,623
<OTHER-SE>                                   (349,108)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 1,579,039
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               200,732
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   60,777
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              49,521
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 40,671
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    40,671
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.05
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.04

<FN>
<F1> Current assets and current liabilities are not listed since Federal Realty
does not prepare a classified balance sheet. </FN>