Summary of major accounting policies (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Schedule of property, plant and equipment

The following table summarizes the Company’s property, plant and equipment (in millions) and estimated useful lives (in years):

	Estimated useful life	2019		2018
Land and land improvements	20	$	3,507	$	3,593
Buildings and building improvements	3 to 50	8,023		7,874
Fixtures and equipment	3 to 20	9,786		9,750
Capitalized system development costs and software	3 to 8	2,770		2,464
Capital lease properties		703		743
		24,789		24,424
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		11,310		10,513
Balance at end of year		$	13,478	$	13,911

Schedule of new accounting pronouncements and changes in accounting principles

The following is a reconciliation of the effect on the relevant line items on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the twelve months ended August 31, 2018 and 2017 as a result of adopting this new accounting guidance (in millions):

	As reported			Adjustments			As revised
Twelve months ended August 31, 2018
Trade accounts payable	$	1,323		$	29		$	1,352
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	281			6			287
Other non-current assets and liabilities	(275		)	(36		)	(311		)
Net cash provided by operating activities	8,265			(2		)	8,263
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	15			(4		)	11
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(2,516		)	(6		)	(2,522		)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	3,301			195			3,496
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	785		$	190		$	975

	As reported			Adjustments			As revised
Twelve months ended August 31, 2017
Trade accounts payable	$	1,690		$	(6	)	$	1,684
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(128		)	—			(128		)
Other non-current assets and liabilities	67			10			77
Net cash provided by operating activities	7,251			4			7,255
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	20			6			26
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(6,506		)	10			(6,496		)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	9,807			185			9,992
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	3,301		$	195		$	3,496

The following is a reconciliation of the effect of the reclassification of all other net cost components (excluding service cost component) of net pension cost and net postretirement benefit cost from selling, general and administrative expenses to other income (expense) in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Earnings (in millions):

	As reported			Adjustments			As revised
Twelve months ended August 31, 2018
Selling, general and administrative expenses	$	24,569		$	125		$	24,694
Operating income	6,414			(125		)	6,289
Other income (expense)	177			125			302
Twelve months ended August 31, 2017
Selling, general and administrative expenses	$	23,740		$	73		$	23,813
Operating income	5,557			(73		)	5,484
Other income (expense)	(11		)	73			62