SALES OF ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE (Activity of Deferred Purchase Price Receivables) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
		Feb. 28, 2017		Feb. 29, 2016		Feb. 28, 2017		Feb. 29, 2016
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for Which Transfer is Accounted as Sale [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance						$ 765,784
Transfers of accounts receivable				$ 11,100		0		$ 23,400
Collections				(11,900)		(3,700)		(36,800)
Program termination						1,600
Ending balance		$ 774,286				774,286
Deferred purchase price receivables
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for Which Transfer is Accounted as Sale [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		261,521		228,862		289,748		339,547
Transfers of accounts receivable		643,478		537,774		1,200,442		1,126,193
Collections		(592,553)		(534,762)		(1,143,827)		(1,233,866)
Program termination						(33,917)
Ending balance		312,446		231,874		312,446		231,874
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		215,717		196,130		212,762		269,778
Transfers of accounts receivable		561,010		432,900		1,031,155		919,423
Collections		(518,008)		(435,995)		(985,198)		(996,166)
Program termination						0
Ending balance		258,719		193,035		258,719		193,035
Deferred purchase price receivables | Australia
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for Which Transfer is Accounted as Sale [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				15,286	[1]	26,662	[2]	18,038	[3]
Transfers of accounts receivable				37,256	[1]	16,914	[2]	83,330	[3]
Collections				(39,159)	[1]	(9,659)	[2]	(87,985)	[3]
Program termination	[2]					(33,917)
Ending balance		0	[2]	13,383	[1],[3]	0	[2]	13,383	[1],[3]
Deferred purchase price receivables | Poland
Securitization or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement, Financial Asset for Which Transfer is Accounted as Sale [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		45,804		17,446		50,324		51,731
Transfers of accounts receivable		82,468		67,618		152,373		123,440
Collections		(74,545)		(59,608)		(148,970)		(149,715)
Program termination						0
Ending balance		$ 53,727		$ 25,456		$ 53,727		$ 25,456

[1] Includes the sales of accounts receivable activities related to businesses held for sale (transfers of accounts receivable of $11.1 million and collections of $11.9 million for the three months ended February 29, 2016).

[2] Includes the sales of trade accounts receivable activities related to discontinued operations and businesses sold. For the six months ended February 28, 2017, there were no transfers of trade accounts receivable, collections of $3.7 million and program termination of $1.6 million.

[3] Includes the sales of trade accounts receivable activities related to discontinued operations and businesses held for sale. For the six months ended February 29, 2016, transfers of trade accounts receivable were $23.4 million and collections were $36.8 million.