Short-Term Borrowings and Long-Term Debt, Short-Term Borrowings (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		9 Months Ended
		May. 31, 2015	Aug. 31, 2014
Short-Term Borrowings [Abstract]
Current maturities of loans assumed through the purchase of land and buildings	[1]	$ 2	$ 8
Other		1,192	774
Assumed Loans [Member]
Short-Term Borrowings [Abstract]
Current maturities of loans assumed through the purchase of land and buildings	[1]	$ 2	8
Minimum interest rate (in hundredths)	[1]	5.00%
Maximum interest rate (in hundredths)	[1]	8.75%
Maturity year start	[1]	2015
Maturity year end	[1]	2035
Unsecured Variable Rate Notes Due 2016 [Member]
Short-Term Borrowings [Abstract]
Unsecured Notes	[1]	$ 747	0
Maturity year	[1]	2016
1.000% Unsecured Notes Due 2015 [Member]
Short-Term Borrowings [Abstract]
Unsecured Notes	[1]	$ 0	750
Stated interest rate (in hundredths)	[1]	1.00%
Maturity year	[1]	2015
Other Short-Term Debt [Member]
Short-Term Borrowings [Abstract]
Other	[1],[2]	$ 443	16
Total short-term borrowings	[1]	$ 1,192	$ 774

[1] All notes are presented net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs, where applicable.

[2] Other short-term borrowings represent a mix of fixed and variable rate borrowings with various maturities and working capital facilities denominated in various foreign currencies including $46 million of U.S. dollar equivalent bank overdrafts.