CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Aug. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 485,323	$ 434,925
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $9,033 and $5,908)	900,619	1,028,425
Inventories, net	781,371	935,411
Current deferred tax assets	29,137	49,455
Other current assets	93,643	105,575
Assets of businesses held for sale	17,008	0
Total current assets	2,307,101	2,553,791
Property, plant and equipment:
Land	75,086	79,295
Buildings and improvements	489,500	494,842
Equipment	1,670,755	1,728,425
Construction in process	59,241	30,591
Property, plant and equipment, Gross	2,294,582	2,333,153
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,410,932)	(1,408,055)
Property, plant and equipment, Net	883,650	925,098
Goodwill	66,383	74,319
Other assets	115,168	135,312
Total assets	3,372,302	3,688,520
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable-trade	260,984	423,807
Accounts payable-documentary letters of credit	41,473	125,053
Accrued expenses and other payables	279,415	322,000
Notes payable	20,090	12,288
Current maturities of long-term debt	10,110	8,005
Liabilities of businesses held for sale	5,276	0
Total current liabilities	617,348	891,153
Deferred income taxes	55,803	55,600
Other long-term liabilities	101,919	112,134
Long-term debt	1,277,882	1,281,042
Total liabilities	$ 2,052,952	$ 2,339,929
Commitments and contingencies (Note 18)
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; authorized 200,000,000 shares; issued 129,060,664 shares; outstanding 115,635,338 and 117,829,262 shares	$ 1,290	$ 1,290
Additional paid-in capital	365,863	359,338
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(113,535)	(19,509)
Retained earnings	1,311,544	1,225,855
Less treasury stock, 13,425,326 and 11,231,402 shares at cost	(245,961)	(218,494)
Stockholders' equity attributable to CMC	1,319,201	1,348,480
Stockholders' equity attributable to noncontrolling interests	149	111
Total equity	1,319,350	1,348,591
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 3,372,302	$ 3,688,520