SALES OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE (Activity of Deferred Purchase Price Receivables) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	May. 31, 2015		May. 31, 2014	May. 31, 2015		May. 31, 2014	May. 31, 2015		May. 31, 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	$ 46,200			148,300
Collections	(47,500)			(164,000)
Ending balance				1,028,425			$ 987,146
Deferred purchase price receivables
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for Which Transfer is Accounted as Sale [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	386,447		$ 313,117	385,169		$ 453,252
Transfers of accounts receivable	892,387		1,039,136	2,908,695		3,115,437
Collections	(871,953)		(989,887)	(2,886,983)		(3,134,011)
Program termination						(72,312)
Ending balance	386,447		313,117	385,169		453,252	406,881		$ 362,366
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	327,009		273,714	329,797		358,822
Transfers of accounts receivable	724,309		808,886	2,426,691		2,423,990
Collections	(727,077)		(803,592)	(2,432,247)		(2,503,804)
Program termination						0
Ending balance	327,009		273,714	329,797		358,822	324,241		279,008
Deferred purchase price receivables | Australia
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for Which Transfer is Accounted as Sale [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	21,680	[1]	29,635	34,071	[1]	64,996
Transfers of accounts receivable	79,173	[1]	120,350	233,237	[1]	374,170
Collections	(75,210)	[1]	(111,791)	(241,665)	[1]	(328,660)
Program termination						(72,312)
Ending balance	21,680	[1]	29,635	34,071	[1]	64,996	25,643	[1]	38,194
Deferred purchase price receivables | Europe
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for Which Transfer is Accounted as Sale [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	37,758		9,768	21,301		29,434
Transfers of accounts receivable	88,905		109,900	248,767		317,277
Collections	(69,666)		(74,504)	(213,071)		(301,547)
Program termination						0
Ending balance	$ 37,758		$ 9,768	$ 21,301		$ 29,434	$ 56,997		$ 45,164

[1] Includes the sales of accounts receivable activities related to businesses held for sale (transfers of accounts receivable of $46.2 million and $148.3 million, and collections of $47.5 million and $164.0 million for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2015, respectively).