Credit Arrangements (Tables)

9 Months Ended

May 31, 2013

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Long-term debt, including the deferred gain from the termination of the interest rate swaps

Long-term debt, including the deferred gain from the termination of the interest rate swaps, was as follows:

(in thousands)	Weighted Average Interest Rate as of May 31, 2013	May 31, 2013		August 31, 2012
$200 million notes at 5.625% due November 2013	2.8%	$	141,886	$	204,873
$400 million notes at 6.50% due July 2017	5.7%	412,261		414,491
$500 million notes at 7.35% due August 2018	6.4%	524,086		527,554
$330 million notes at 4.875% due May 2023	4.9%	330,000		—
Other, including equipment notes		13,510		14,407
		1,421,743		1,161,325
Less current maturities		144,162		4,252
		$	1,277,581	$	1,157,073

 Interest on these notes is payable semiannually.