Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 325,973	$ 314,899
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts (2018 – $22,166; 2017 – $17,612)	2,641,151	2,421,563
Merchandise inventories, net	3,772,919	3,771,089
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	841,569	805,342
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS	7,581,612	7,312,893
Goodwill	2,202,634	2,153,988
Other intangible assets, less accumulated amortization	1,415,792	1,400,392
Deferred tax assets	39,830	40,158
Other assets	588,238	568,248
Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation (2018 – $1,083,696; 2017 – $1,044,353)	931,288	936,702
TOTAL ASSETS	12,759,394	12,412,381
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Trade accounts payable	3,773,149	3,634,859
Current portion of debt	751,614	694,989
Dividends payable	105,649	99,000
Income taxes payable	28,144	10,736
Other current liabilities	1,098,916	1,034,441
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES	5,757,472	5,474,025
Long-term debt	2,564,111	2,550,020
Pension and other post–retirement benefit liabilities	200,253	229,868
Deferred tax liabilities	184,383	193,308
Other long-term liabilities	491,794	501,004
EQUITY:
Preferred stock, par value - $1 per share, Authorized - 10,000,000 shares; none issued	0	0
Common stock, par value - $1 per share, Authorized - 450,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding - 2018 - 146,737,803 shares; 2017 - 146,652,615 shares	146,738	146,653
Additional paid-in capital	68,127	68,126
Retained earnings	4,114,472	4,049,965
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(819,258)	(852,592)
TOTAL PARENT EQUITY	3,510,079	3,412,152
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	51,302	52,004
TOTAL EQUITY	3,561,381	3,464,156
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 12,759,394	$ 12,412,381