Consolidated Statements of Earnings - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
Net sales	$ 964,230	$ 967,890	$ 937,755	$ 964,468	$ 944,288	$ 949,275	$ 919,471	$ 940,464	$ 3,834,343	$ 3,753,498	$ 3,622,216
Cost of products sold and distribution expenses									1,936,492	1,893,326	1,826,953
Gross profit	475,311	481,319	467,452	473,769	467,540	475,711	456,395	460,526	1,897,851	1,860,172	1,795,263
Selling, general and administrative expenses									1,313,134	1,273,513	1,202,709
Depreciation and amortization									89,391	79,663	72,192
Operating earnings (loss)									495,326	506,996	520,362
Interest expense									116,842	116,317	107,695
Earnings (loss) before provision for income taxes									378,484	390,679	412,667
Provision for income taxes									143,397	144,686	151,516
Net earnings	$ 56,180	$ 62,463	$ 61,535	$ 54,909	$ 61,750	$ 67,756	$ 58,492	$ 57,995	$ 235,087	$ 245,993	$ 261,151
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.40	$ 0.39	$ 0.35	$ 0.40	$ 0.43	$ 0.36	$ 0.35	$ 1.50	$ 1.54	$ 1.52
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.36	$ 0.39	$ 0.39	$ 0.35	$ 0.39	$ 0.42	$ 0.35	$ 0.35	$ 1.49	$ 1.51	$ 1.48
Weighted average shares:
Basic (in shares)									156,353	159,933	171,682
Diluted (in shares)									158,226	163,419	176,159