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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PCESJM1PwU9M3Ya6Ie127OcmYQLgZollatgpl2K1EDPatG5mxmk3s0vpNhN+D7F7
 vux3K6qydUXttq8TClz1Mw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001203113-08-000069.txt : 20081121
<SEC-HEADER>0001203113-08-000069.hdr.sgml : 20081121
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081121140851
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001203113-08-000069
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081119
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081121
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081121

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JAVITCH LEE H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001203108

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06300
		FILM NUMBER:		081206741

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PENN. REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST
		STREET 2:		200 S. BROAD ST., THE BELLEVUE
		CITY:			PHILADEPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19102

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PENNSYLVANIA REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000077281
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				236216339
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE BELLEVUE
		STREET 2:		200 S BROAD STREET
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19102
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2155429250

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE BELLEVUE
		STREET 2:		200 S BROAD STREET
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19102
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000077281</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PENNSYLVANIA REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PEI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001203108</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JAVITCH LEE H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PENN. REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>THE BELLEVUE, 200 S. BROAD ST.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHILADELPHIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19102</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value $1.00 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lee H. Javitch</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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