Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits - Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates (Detail)	12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2013	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Current health care trend assumption	7.80%	8.00%	8.00%
Ultimate health care trend rate	4.50%	4.50%	4.50%
Year ultimate health care trend is reached	2032	2030	2029

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The assumed health care cost trend rate for the next year used to measure the expected cost of benefits covered by the plan (gross eligible charges). This is based upon the annual rate of change in the cost of health care benefits currently provided by the postretirement benefit plan, due to factors other than changes in the composition of the plan population by age and dependency status.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (l)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Health Care Cost Trend Rate

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6514820

+ Details

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- Definition

The ultimate trend rate for health care costs.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

Year the ultimate health care cost trend rate is expected to be reached, in CCYY format.

+ References

+ Details

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