CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015
Cash flows from (used by) operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 54,893	$ 67,090
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash flows from (used by) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	95,423	99,829
Provision for losses on receivables, net	3,748	2,525
Stock-based compensation	19,889	18,288
Amortization of interest rate swaps termination gain	(5,698)	(5,698)
Loss on debt extinguishment	11,480	0
Deferred income taxes	9,744	(19,594)
Tax benefit from stock plans	(666)	(122)
Net gain on sale of assets and other	(1,802)	(1,737)
Write-down of inventories	9,567	21,535
Asset impairment	15,842	3,390
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	146,166	90,412
Advance payments on sale of accounts receivable program, net	1,473	(98,033)
Inventories	205,717	2,934
Other assets	(6,729)	11,636
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other payables	(64,676)	(128,065)
Other long-term liabilities	12,497	(5,601)
Net cash flows from operating activities	506,868	58,789
Cash flows from (used by) investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(104,481)	(75,976)
Increase in restricted cash	(49,094)	0
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment and other	3,470	10,143
Proceeds from the sale of subsidiaries	0	2,354
Net cash flows used by investing activities	(150,105)	(63,479)
Cash flows from (used by) financing activities:
Repayments on long-term debt	(208,605)	(8,038)
Cash dividends	(41,586)	(42,073)
Increase (decrease) in documentary letters of credit, net	(40,145)	51,722
Treasury stock acquired	(30,595)	(41,806)
Short-term borrowings, net change	(20,090)	(7,492)
Debt extinguishment costs	(11,127)	0
Stock issued under incentive and purchase plans, net of forfeitures	(6,036)	(1,389)
Decrease in restricted cash	1	3,630
Contribution from noncontrolling interests	29	38
Tax benefit from stock plans	666	122
Net cash flows used by financing activities	(357,488)	(45,286)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(743)	(3,943)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(1,468)	(53,919)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	485,323	434,925
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	483,855	381,006
Noncash activities:
Liabilities related to additions of property, plant and equipment	$ 18,066	$ 11,882