FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

David H. Hoster II, President and Chief Executive Officer

N. Keith McKey, Chief Financial Officer

(601) 354-3555

EastGroup Properties Announces 106th Quarterly Dividend

Jackson, Mississippi, May 31, 2006– EastGroup Properties (NYSE-EGP) announced today that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $.49 per share payable on June 30, 2006 to shareholders of record of Common Stock on June 19, 2006. This dividend is the 106th consecutive quarterly distribution to EastGroup’s shareholders and represents an annualized dividend rate of $1.96 per share.

EastGroup also announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $.4969 per share payable on July 15, 2006 to shareholders of record of Series D Preferred Stock on June 30, 2006.

EastGroup Properties, Inc. is a self-administered equity real estate investment trust focused on the development, acquisition and operation of industrial properties in major Sunbelt markets throughout the United States with an emphasis in the states of Arizona, California, Florida and Texas. Its strategy for growth is based on its property portfolio orientation toward premier business distribution facilities clustered near major transportation features. EastGroup’s portfolio currently includes 21.5 million square feet with an additional 1,033,000 square feet of properties under development.

EastGroup Properties, Inc. press releases are available at www.eastgroup.net.


P.O. Box 22728, Jackson, MS 39225-2728

Telephone: 601/354-3555 Fax: 601/352-1441