SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT



     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date
       of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 31, 1998



                         Federal Realty Investment Trust
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



   District of Columbia               1-7533                52-0782497     
- ----------------------------        ------------          -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction        (Commission           (IRS Employer
of incorporation)                   File Number)          Identification No.)


1626 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, Maryland              20852-4041      
- -----------------------------------------------              ----------
(Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number including area code:  301/998-8100



Exhibit Index appears on Page 3.

 
Item 5.         Other Events

                Federal Realty  Investment  Trust hereby files as exhibit 99 the
following  supplemental  data  pertaining  to its  portfolio  of  properties  at
December 31, 1998.


Item 7.         Financial Statements and Exhibits

    (c)         Exhibits.

                99      Supplemental portfolio information at December 31, 1998



                                   SIGNATURES


                Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934,  the  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                             FEDERAL REALTY INVESTMENT TRUST



Date:   February 11, 1999                    /s/ Cecily A. Ward   
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Cecily A. Ward
                                             Vice President, Controller

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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exh No.   Exhibit                                                  Page No.
- -------   -------                                                  --------

   99     Supplemental portfolio information at December 31, 1998      4

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