Summary By Business Segment (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Segment Reporting, Measurement Disclosures [Abstract]

Financial Information By Segment

	Three Months Ended										Three Months Ended
	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
(In thousands)	Distribution		All Other Ops.		Eliminations and Other			Total			Distribution		All Other Ops.		Eliminations and Other			Total
Gas and rent	$	611,005	$	119,409	$	(8,959	)	$	721,455		$	564,134	$	104,277	$	(7,808	)	$	660,603
Hardgoods	430,724		1,578		(6		)	432,296			372,570		1,298		(7		)	373,861
Total net sales	1,041,729		120,987		(8,965		)	1,153,751			936,704		105,575		(7,815		)	1,034,464
Cost of products sold (excluding depreciation)	467,999		61,782		(8,965		)	520,816			411,057		54,975		(7,815		)	458,217
Selling, distribution and administrative expenses	379,894		40,002		13,154			433,050			352,238		33,653		2,071			387,962
Restructuring and other special charges	—		—		2,431			2,431			—		—		—			—
Costs (benefits) related to unsolicited takeover attempt	—		—		(1,170		)	(1,170		)	—		—		17,558			17,558
Depreciation	56,695		4,880		—			61,575			52,249		3,882		—			56,131
Amortization	5,171		1,266		—			6,437			5,069		1,161		—			6,230
Operating income	$	131,970	$	13,057	$	(14,415	)	$	130,612		$	116,091	$	11,904	$	(19,629	)	$	108,366
	Nine Months Ended										Nine Months Ended
	December 31, 2011										December 31, 2010
(In thousands)	Distribution		All Other Ops.		Eliminations and Other			Total			Distribution		All Other Ops.		Eliminations and Other			Total
Gas and rent	$	1,827,302	$	404,554	$	(28,584	)	$	2,203,272		$	1,683,551	$	354,969	$	(23,436	)	$	2,015,084
Hardgoods	1,297,343		4,533		(14		)	1,301,862			1,129,278		4,439		(18		)	1,133,699
Total net sales	3,124,645		409,087		(28,598		)	3,505,134			2,812,829		359,408		(23,454		)	3,148,783
Cost of products sold (excluding depreciation)	1,414,059		218,716		(28,598		)	1,604,177			1,245,419		187,526		(23,454		)	1,409,491
Selling, distribution and administrative expenses	1,131,263		120,258		28,412			1,279,933			1,059,037		100,070		16,018			1,175,125
Restructuring and other special charges	—		—		18,261			18,261			—		—		—			—
Costs (benefits) related to unsolicited takeover attempt	—		—		(7,870		)	(7,870		)	—		—		26,032			26,032
Depreciation	168,026		14,198		—			182,224			155,169		11,441		—			166,610
Amortization	15,075		3,766		—			18,841			15,158		3,485		—			18,643
Operating income	$	396,222	$	52,149	$	(38,803	)	$	409,568		$	338,046	$	56,886	$	(42,050	)	$	352,882