Sources told The New York Times that price issues have stalled merger talks between U. S. carriers United Airlines and Continental Airlines.

The Times said on Monday that at issue is what date to use to define the "unaffected share price," which is the average share price -- often using a 30-day average -- prior to public disclosure that merger talks are under way.

Negotiators for Continental are pushing to declare the unaffected share price to be based on a pricing average from before the public learned United was discussing a merger with US Airways, after which United's share values rose 20 percent.

Continental's share price has risen only 7 percent in the same time period.

It was further reported that United negotiators, meanwhile, are seeking to declare the unaffected share price to be an average price from a period directly before the public learned discussions with Continental were under way, even though United shares had by then gotten a bump from the public anticipating a merger with US Airways.

United shares on Friday closed at $22.99. Continental shares were at $22.01. (With Inputs from Agencies)