Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2011

Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]

Summarized Quarterly Financial Data

	Three Months Ended 2011
	Nov. 30		Feb. 28			May 31		Aug. 31
Net sales*	$	1,782,480	$	1,791,766		$	2,076,564	$	2,267,620
Gross profit*		148,988		81,186			215,439		171,002
Net earnings (loss) attributable to CMC		651		(46,162	)		36,165		(120,271	)
Basic EPS (loss) attributable to CMC		0.01		(0.40	)		0.31		(1.04	)
Diluted EPS (loss) attributable to CMC		0.01		(0.40	)		0.31		(1.04	)

	Three Months Ended 2010
	Nov. 30			Feb. 28			May 31			Aug. 31
Net sales*	$	1,402,258		$	1,322,443		$	1,765,154		$	1,816,247
Gross profit*		107,763			8,614			119,904			158,756
Net earnings (loss) attributable to CMC		(31,229	)		(173,290	)		(8,826	)		8,001
Basic EPS (loss) attributable to CMC		(0.28	)		(1.53	)		(0.08	)		0.07
Diluted EPS (loss) attributable to CMC		(0.28	)		(1.53	)		(0.08	)		0.07

	Three Months Ended 2009
	Nov. 30		Feb. 28			May 31			Aug. 31
Net sales*	$	2,232,230	$	1,507,460		$	1,258,237		$	1,411,449
Gross profit*		235,308		134,090			179,383			148,248
Net earnings attributable to CMC		62,006		(35,307	)		(13,077	)		7,180
Basic EPS attributable to CMC		0.55		(0.32	)		(0.12	)		0.06
Diluted EPS attributable to CMC		0.54		(0.32	)		(0.12	)		0.06