SALES OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE (Activity of Deferred Purchase Price Receivables) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2015		Feb. 28, 2014	Feb. 28, 2015		Feb. 28, 2014
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for Which Transfer is Accounted as Sale [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				$ 1,028,425
Transfers of accounts receivable	41,600			102,100
Collections	(52,900)			(116,500)
Ending balance	898,127			898,127
Deferred purchase price receivables
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for Which Transfer is Accounted as Sale [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	471,840		375,223	385,169		453,252
Transfers of accounts receivable	888,064		1,039,096	2,016,308		2,076,301
Collections	(973,457)		(1,101,202)	(2,015,030)		(2,144,124)
Program termination						(72,312)
Ending balance	386,447		313,117	386,447		313,117
Deferred purchase price receivables | U.S.
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for Which Transfer is Accounted as Sale [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	408,320		351,515	329,797		358,822
Transfers of accounts receivable	753,219		774,533	1,702,382		1,615,104
Collections	(834,530)		(852,334)	(1,705,170)		(1,700,212)
Program termination						0
Ending balance	327,009		273,714	327,009		273,714
Deferred purchase price receivables | Australia
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for Which Transfer is Accounted as Sale [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	22,376	[1]	0	34,071	[1]	64,996
Transfers of accounts receivable	63,335	[1]	180,700	154,064	[1]	253,820
Collections	(64,031)	[1]	(151,065)	(166,455)	[1]	(216,869)
Program termination						(72,312)
Ending balance	21,680	[1]	29,635	21,680	[1]	29,635
Deferred purchase price receivables | Europe
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for Which Transfer is Accounted as Sale [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	41,144		23,708	21,301		29,434
Transfers of accounts receivable	71,510		83,863	159,862		207,377
Collections	(74,896)		(97,803)	(143,405)		(227,043)
Program termination						0
Ending balance	$ 37,758		$ 9,768	$ 37,758		$ 9,768

[1] Includes the sales of accounts receivable activities related to businesses held for sale (transfers of accounts receivable of $41.6 million and $102.1 million, and collections of $52.9 million and $116.5 million for the three and six months ended February 28, 2015, respectively).