I'm looking for a way to merge a group of cells in each row that doesn't contain the value "Item" in Column A?. There are a variable number of rows between row 17 and where a list of items actually begin.

Range("A17").Activate
if A17 <> "Item" then merge cells E17:H17
Move down one row (A18)
if A18 <> "Item" then merge cells E18:H18


I'm able to get all of columns E:H to merge, but I only want those cells within the the current row being evaluated for the value "Item". There is probably something very simple I am missing. Any help would be great...thanks in advance.

Thanks again
Tammy