Property, Plant and Equipment

12 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2017

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

6. Property, Plant and Equipment

	Property, plant and equipment consists of the following (in thousands):

			August 31,
			2017		2016
		Land and improvements	$	120,574	$	120,470
		Buildings		804,861		809,890
		Leasehold improvements		877,752		815,308
		Machinery and equipment		3,680,881		3,475,325
		Furniture, fixtures and office equipment		178,603		164,079
		Computer hardware and software		583,569		562,456
		Transportation equipment		22,080		22,307
		Construction in progress		85,748		84,016
				6,354,068		6,053,851
		Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		3,125,390		2,721,972
			$	3,228,678	$	3,331,879


Depreciation and maintenance and repair expenses were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

		Fiscal Year Ended August 31,
		2017		2016		2015
	Depreciation expense	$	724,856	$	659,542	$	504,735
	Maintenance and repair expense	$	234,332	$	197,373	$	205,541

As of August 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had $242.2 million and $90.3 million, respectively, included in accounts payable for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment, which is considered a non-cash investing activity in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.