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BUSINESS SEGMENTS (External Net Sales from Continuing Operations by Geographic Area) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Aug. 31, 2016 | [1] | May 31, 2016 | [1] | Feb. 29, 2016 | [1] | Nov. 30, 2015 | [1] | Aug. 31, 2015 | [1] | May 31, 2015 | [1] | Feb. 28, 2015 | [1] | Nov. 30, 2014 | [1] | Aug. 31, 2016 | Aug. 31, 2015 | Aug. 31, 2014
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales | $ 1,208,580 | $ 1,227,390 | $ 1,019,697 | $ 1,154,859 | $ 1,411,496 | $ 1,506,002 | $ 1,391,117 | $ 1,679,990 | $ 4,610,526 | $ 5,988,605 | $ 6,790,438
United States |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,220,459 | 4,199,789 | 4,510,080
Europe |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 771,118 | 1,006,204 | 1,215,150
Asia |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 429,910 | 578,755 | 786,512
Australia/New Zealand |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 125,069 | 121,403 | 175,756
Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 63,970 | $ 82,454 | $ 102,940
[1] | Excludes divisions classified as discontinued operations. See Note 10, Businesses Held for Sale, Discontinued Operations and Dispositions.

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- Definition Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(a)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 + Details
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