CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2017	May 31, 2016
Cash flows from (used by) operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 75,873	$ 54,893
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash flows from (used by) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	93,049	95,423
Stock-based compensation	19,716	19,889
Amortization of interest rate swaps termination gain	(5,698)	(5,698)
Deferred income taxes	(2,538)	9,744
Write-down of inventories	1,820	9,567
Provision for losses on receivables, net	856	3,748
Asset impairment	622	15,842
Net gain on disposals of assets and other	(343)	(1,802)
Loss on debt extinguishment	0	11,480
Tax benefit from stock plans	0	(666)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(86,668)	146,166
Proceeds (payments) on sales of accounts receivable programs, net	(4,327)	1,473
Inventories	(134,720)	205,717
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other payables	83,355	(64,676)
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities	(22,083)	5,768
Net cash flows from operating activities	18,914	506,868
Cash flows from (used by) investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(162,082)	(104,481)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(54,425)	0
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash, net	7,492	(49,094)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment and other	1,884	3,470
Net cash flows used by investing activities	(207,131)	(150,105)
Cash flows from (used by) financing activities:
Cash dividends	(41,619)	(41,586)
Repayments on long-term debt	(8,775)	(208,605)
Stock issued under incentive and purchase plans, net of forfeitures	(5,516)	(6,036)
Proceeds from New Markets Tax Credit transactions	2,141	0
Increase (decrease) in documentary letters of credit, net	569	(40,145)
Contribution from noncontrolling interests	14	29
Short-term borrowings, net change	0	(20,090)
Treasury stock acquired	0	(30,595)
Debt extinguishment costs	0	(11,127)
Tax benefit from stock plans	0	666
Decrease in restricted cash	0	1
Net cash flows used by financing activities	(53,186)	(357,488)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(363)	(743)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(241,766)	(1,468)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	517,544	485,323
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	275,778	483,855
Noncash activities:
Liabilities related to additions of property, plant and equipment	$ 31,024	$ 18,066