$5,200 for 2 melons? That's 80% discount

TOKYO: The latest victim of Japan's recession is round, sweet and famous for being shockingly expensive.

The first two Yubari melons of the season were auctioned on Friday in northern Japan and fetched 500,000 yen ($5,200). Pricey? Certainly. But it's practically a steal if you consider last year's winning bid - a record 2.5 million yen, or about $26,000. In 2007 they sold for 2 million yen.

It appears the world's swankiest melon is in a major deflationary slump.