CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	May. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 381,006	$ 434,925
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $7,498 and $5,908)	987,146	1,028,425
Inventories, net	944,611	935,411
Current deferred tax assets	32,656	49,455
Other current assets	98,525	105,575
Assets of businesses held for sale	69,682	0
Total current assets	2,513,626	2,553,791
Property, plant and equipment:
Land	75,106	79,295
Buildings and improvements	488,551	494,842
Equipment	1,678,828	1,728,425
Construction in process	34,612	30,591
Property, plant and equipment, Gross	2,277,097	2,333,153
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,405,070)	(1,408,055)
Property, plant and equipment, Net	872,027	925,098
Goodwill	73,762	74,319
Other noncurrent assets	120,311	135,312
Total assets	3,579,726	3,688,520
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable-trade	294,226	423,807
Accounts payable-documentary letters of credit	166,717	125,053
Accrued expenses and other payables	277,071	322,000
Notes payable	4,796	12,288
Current maturities of long-term debt	9,753	8,005
Liabilities of businesses held for sale	28,863	0
Total current liabilities	781,426	891,153
Deferred income taxes	60,338	55,600
Other long-term liabilities	105,303	112,134
Long-term debt	1,279,369	1,281,042
Total liabilities	2,226,436	$ 2,339,929
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; authorized 200,000,000 shares; issued 129,060,664 shares; outstanding 115,601,037 and 117,829,262 shares	1,290	$ 1,290
Additional paid-in capital	363,458	359,338
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(96,162)	(19,509)
Retained earnings	1,331,167	1,225,855
Less treasury stock, 13,459,627 and 11,231,402 shares at cost	(246,612)	(218,494)
Stockholders' equity attributable to CMC	1,353,141	1,348,480
Stockholders' equity attributable to noncontrolling interests	149	111
Total stockholders' equity	1,353,290	1,348,591
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 3,579,726	$ 3,688,520