XML 68 R52.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.7.0.1

Restructuring (Details) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) position | Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Ratings |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Employee termination charges |  | $ 6 |  | $ 6 |
Market and Commodities Intelligence |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Employee termination charges | $ 5 |  | $ 5 |  |
2017 Restructuring Plan |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Workforce reduction (in positions) | position |  |  | 120 |  |
Initial Charge Recorded |  |  | $ 5 |  |
Employee termination charges |  |  | 5 |  |
Reduction of reserve |  |  | 1 |  |
Ending Reserve Balance | 4 |  | 4 |  |
Reserve balance | 4 |  | 4 |  |
2017 Restructuring Plan | Ratings |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Initial Charge Recorded |  |  | 0 |  |
Ending Reserve Balance | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Reserve balance | 0 |  | 0 |  |
2017 Restructuring Plan | Market and Commodities Intelligence |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Initial Charge Recorded |  |  | 5 |  |
Ending Reserve Balance | 4 |  | 4 |  |
Reserve balance | 4 |  | 4 |  |
2017 Restructuring Plan | Indices |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Initial Charge Recorded |  |  | 0 |  |
Ending Reserve Balance | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Reserve balance | 0 |  | 0 |  |
2017 Restructuring Plan | Corporate |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Initial Charge Recorded |  |  | 0 |  |
Ending Reserve Balance | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Reserve balance | 0 |  | $ 0 |  |
2016 Restructuring Plan |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Workforce reduction (in positions) | position |  |  | 230 |  |
Initial Charge Recorded |  |  | $ 30 |  |
Ending Reserve Balance | 14 |  | 14 |  |
Reserve balance | 14 |  | 14 |  | $ 23
Restructuring charges paid |  |  | 9 |  |
2016 Restructuring Plan | Ratings |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Initial Charge Recorded |  |  | 14 |  |
Ending Reserve Balance | 7 |  | 7 |  |
Reserve balance | 7 |  | 7 |  |
2016 Restructuring Plan | Market and Commodities Intelligence |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Initial Charge Recorded |  |  | 10 |  |
Ending Reserve Balance | 4 |  | 4 |  |
Reserve balance | 4 |  | 4 |  |
2016 Restructuring Plan | Indices |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Initial Charge Recorded |  |  | 1 |  |
Ending Reserve Balance | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Reserve balance | 0 |  | 0 |  |
2016 Restructuring Plan | Corporate |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Initial Charge Recorded |  |  | 5 |  |
Ending Reserve Balance | 3 |  | 3 |  |
Reserve balance | $ 3 |  | $ 3 |  |

X
- Definition The increase (decrease) during the period in the carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions of the accrual) of the liability pertaining to the exit from or disposal of business activities or restructuring pursuant to a duly authorized plan, excluding costs or losses pertaining to an entity newly acquired in a business combination and to asset retirement obligations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInRestructuringReserve
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of cash payments made as the result of exit or disposal activities. Excludes payments associated with a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PaymentsForRestructuring
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of positions eliminated during the period as a result of restructuring activities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringAndRelatedCostNumberOfPositionsEliminated
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140864-122747 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringCharges
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Carrying amount (including both current and noncurrent portions of the accrual) as of the balance sheet date pertaining to a specified type of cost associated with exit from or disposal of business activities or restructuring pursuant to a duly authorized plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringReserve
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of expenses for special or contractual termination benefits provided to current employees involuntarily terminated under a benefit arrangement associated exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to one-time termination benefits, a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.4(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140904-122747 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6394359&loc=d3e17939-110869 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(10) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65897934&loc=d3e1928-114920 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 420 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011515&loc=d3e140864-122747 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SeveranceCosts1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=spgi_RatingsSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=spgi_MarketandCommoditiesIntelligenceSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis=spgi_RestructuringPlanTwoZeroOneSevenMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=spgi_IndicesSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestructuringPlanAxis=spgi_RestructuringPlanTwoZeroOneSixMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |