If your data source is Access, you can use its Label Report Wizard and with
that you can select the way in which the labels print.

If not, with a Word data source, the following macro will sort the records
so that they print in that configuration when merged

' Macro to assign numbers to data source so that it can be sorted to cause
labels to print down columns
Dim Message, Title, Default, labelrows, labelcolumns, i As Integer, j As
Integer, k As Integer
Message = "Enter the number of labels in a row"    ' Set prompt.
Title = "Labels per Row"    ' Set title.
Default = "3"    ' Set default.
' Display message, title, and default value.
labelcolumns = InputBox(Message, Title, Default)
Message = "Enter the number of labels in a column"    ' Set prompt.
Title = "Labels per column"    ' Set title.
Default = "5"    ' Set default.
labelrows = InputBox(Message, Title, Default)
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Columns.Add
BeforeColumn:=ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Columns(1)
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Rows(1).Range.Cut
k = 1
For i = 1 To ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Rows.Count - labelcolumns
   For j = 1 To labelrows
       ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Cell(i, 1).Range.InsertBefore k + (j - 1) *
labelcolumns
       i = i + 1
   Next j
   k = k + 1
   i = i - 1
   If k Mod labelcolumns = 1 Then k = k - labelcolumns + labelcolumns *
labelrows
Next i
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Sort FieldNumber:="Column 1"
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Rows(1).Select
Selection.Paste
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Columns(1).Delete

If your data source is not in Word, it can be transferred into that format
by the use of a catalog (or in Word XP and later it is called "Directory")
type mailmerge main document.