System and method of reporting status through an electronic price label system

A system and method of reporting a status of another system such as a POS system or credit authorisation system, through a status-reporting electronic price label (EPL). A computer (12) coupled to the EPL (19a-d) monitors the status of the second system (50 or 52) and causes the status-reporting EPL to display a status message indicating the status of the second system. The computer also controls a group of "normal" EPLs (21a-d) which display price information.