SEGMENTS
 9 Months Ended
May 31, 2011
Segments [Abstract]  
SEGMENTS [Text Block]
NOTE 13 - SEGMENTS
 
The Company and its subsidiaries are principally engaged in the international operation of membership shopping warehouse clubs that operate in 11 countries/territories that are located in Latin America and the Caribbean.  In addition, the Company operates distribution centers and corporate offices in the United States.  The Company's reportable segments are based on management's organization of these locations into operating segments by general geographic location, used by management in setting up management lines of responsibility, providing support services, and making operational decisions and assessments of financial performance.  The Company's operating segments are the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean.  Segment amounts are presented after converting to U.S. dollars and consolidating eliminations.  Certain revenues and operating costs included in the United States segment have not been allocated, as it is impractical to do so.  

As of August 31, 2010, the Company changed the "Central America" operating segment to the "Latin America" operating segment to reflect the inclusion of Colombia within the general geographic area of the Company's operations.


 
United
States
Operations
   
Latin
American
Operations
   
Caribbean
Operations
   
Reconciling Items(1)
   
Total
 
Three Month Period Ended May 31, 2011
                        
Revenue from external customers
$
1,906
   
$
274,309
   
$
154,933
   
$
-
   
$
431,148
 
Intersegment revenues
 
167,019
     
-
     
1,069
     
(168,088
)
   
-
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
(267
)
   
(2,458
)
   
(2,114
)
   
-
     
(4,839
)
Operating income
 
9,521
     
11,185
     
1,707
     
-
     
22,413
 
Net income attributable to PriceSmart
 
8,061
     
8,273
     
(44
)    
-
     
16,290
 
Capital expenditures, net
 
1,910
     
9,610
     
1,655
     
-
     
13,175
 
                                       
Three Month Period Ended May 31, 2010
                        
Revenue from external customers
$
882
   
$
216,812
   
$
130,922
   
$
-
   
$
348,616
 
Intersegment revenues
 
126,175
     
-
     
1,051
     
(127,226
)
   
-
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
(215
)
   
(2,209
)
   
(1,504
)
   
-
     
(3,928
)
Operating income
 
8,977
     
7,848
     
1,251
     
-
     
18,076
 
Net income attributable to PriceSmart
 
7,975
     
4,032
     
17
     
-
     
12,024
 
Capital expenditures, net
 
  391
     
  4,527
     
  6,600
     
 -
     
  11,518
 
                                       
Nine Month Period Ended May 31, 2011
                        
Revenue from external customers
$
5,218
   
$
796,193
   
$
465,426
   
$
-
   
$
1,266,837
 
Intersegment revenues
 
475,286
     
-
     
3,400
     
(478,686
)
   
-
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
(728
)
   
(7,075
)
   
(5,872
)
   
-
     
(13,675
)
Operating income
 
30,455
     
33,418
     
8,296
     
-
     
72,169
 
Net income attributable to PriceSmart
 
26,537
     
19,985
     
2,538
     
-
     
49,060
 
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)
 
38,472
     
189,902
     
123,260
     
-
     
351,634
 
Goodwill
 
-
     
32,247
     
5,218
     
-
     
37,465
 
Identifiable assets
 
55,193
     
366,295
     
216,203
     
-
     
637,691
 
Capital expenditures, net
 
4,229
     
20,655
     
9,926
     
-
     
34,810
 
                                       
Nine Month Period Ended May 31, 2010
                                     
Revenue from external customers
$
2,505
   
$
631,437
   
$
396,215
   
$
-
   
$
1,030,157
 
Intersegment revenues
 
363,843
     
-
     
2,907
     
(366,750
)
   
-
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
(719
)
   
(6,177
)
   
(4,295
)
   
-
     
(11,191
)
Operating income
 
21,473
     
24,586
     
8,689
     
-
     
54,748
 
Net income attributable to PriceSmart
 
19,453
     
13,085
     
3,560
     
-
     
36,098
 
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)
 
26,205
     
174,397
     
114,506
     
-
     
315,108
 
Goodwill
 
-
     
32,377
     
5,156
     
-
     
37,533
 
Identifiable assets
 
46,180
     
308,218
     
193,187
     
-
     
547,585
 
Capital expenditures, net
 
1,192
     
13,770
     
23,200
     
-
     
38,162
 
                                       
Year Ended August 31, 2010
                                   
Revenue from external customers
$
  4,199
 
$
  856,994
   
$
  534,698
   
$
   -
   
$
  1,395,891
 
Intersegment revenues
 
  487,042
   
  -
     
  3,923
     
  (490,965
)
   
  -
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
  (953
)
 
  (8,341
)
   
  (5,966
)
   
 -
     
  (15,260
)
Operating income
 
  16,243
   
  41,967
     
  16,683
     
 -
     
  74,893
 
Net income attributable to PriceSmart
 
  12,882
   
  27,294
     
  9,139
     
 -
     
  49,315
 
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)
 
  27,484
   
  173,968
     
  119,635
     
 -
     
  321,087
 
Goodwill
 
 -
   
  32,247
     
  5,224
     
 -
     
  37,471
 
Identifiable assets
 
  65,635
   
  305,429
     
  201,501
     
 -
     
  572,565
 
Capital expenditures, net
 
2,004
   
16,899
     
31,304
     
-
     
50,207
 
                                     
(1)  The reconciling items reflect the amount eliminated on consolidation of intersegment transactions.