XML 54 R38.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.6.0.2

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS (LOSSES) (AOCE) (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS [Abstract] |
Schedule of AOCE | The components of AOCE consisted of the following (in thousands of dollars):
| Foreign Currency Translation | Defined Postretirement Benefit Plan | Other Employment-related Benefit Plans | Other | Total | Foreign Currency Translation Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests | AOCE Attributable to W.W. Grainger, Inc.
Balance at January 1, 2014, net of tax | $ | (7,297 | ) | $ | 34,887 |  | $ | (8,811 | ) | $ | (2,971 | ) | $ | 15,808 |  | $ | (13,106 | ) | $ | 28,914 |
Other comprehensive earnings (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax | (124,065 | ) | (22,667 | ) | (1,462 | ) | 786 |  | (147,408 | ) | (9,880 | ) | (137,528 | )
Amounts reclassified to Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses | 9,042 |  | (6,617 | ) | 9,295 |  | — |  | 11,720 |  | — |  | 11,720 |
Amounts reclassified to Income Taxes | — |  | 2,545 |  | (2,324 | ) | — |  | 221 |  | — |  | 221 |
Net current period activity | $ | (115,023 | ) | $ | (26,739 | ) | $ | 5,509 |  | $ | 786 |  | $ | (135,467 | ) | $ | (9,880 | ) | $ | (125,587 | )
Balance at December 31, 2014, net of tax | $ | (122,320 | ) | $ | 8,148 |  | $ | (3,302 | ) | $ | (2,185 | ) | $ | (119,659 | ) | $ | (22,986 | ) | $ | (96,673 | )
Other comprehensive earnings (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax | (154,096 | ) | 30,451 |  | 641 |  | 1,300 |  | (121,704 | ) | (532 | ) | (121,172 | )
Amounts reclassified to Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses | — |  | (5,289 | ) | — |  | — |  | (5,289 | ) | — |  | (5,289 | )
Amounts reclassified to Income Taxes | — |  | 2,043 |  | — |  | — |  | 2,043 |  | — |  | 2,043 |
Net current period activity | $ | (154,096 | ) | $ | 27,205 |  | $ | 641 |  | $ | 1,300 |  | $ | (124,950 | ) | $ | (532 | ) | $ | (124,418 | )
Balance at December 31, 2015, net of tax | $ | (276,416 | ) | $ | 35,353 |  | $ | (2,661 | ) | $ | (885 | ) | $ | (244,609 | ) | $ | (23,518 | ) | $ | (221,091 | )
Other comprehensive earnings (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax | (38,729 | ) | (6,022 | ) | (2,397 | ) | 885 |  | (46,263 | ) | 906 |  | (47,169 | )
Amounts reclassified to Warehousing, marketing and administrative expenses | — |  | (6,559 | ) | — |  | — |  | (6,559 | ) | — |  | (6,559 | )
Amounts reclassified to Income Taxes | — |  | 2,525 |  | — |  |  |  | 2,525 |  | — |  | 2,525 |
Net current period activity | (38,729 | ) | (10,056 | ) | (2,397 | ) | 885 |  | (50,297 | ) | 906 |  | (51,203 | )
Balance at December 31, 2016, net of tax | $ | (315,145 | ) | $ | 25,297 |  | $ | (5,058 | ) | $ | — |  | $ | (294,906 | ) | $ | (22,612 | ) | $ | (272,294 | )

X
- Definition ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS [Abstract] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | gww_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveEarningsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | gww_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of components of comprehensive income (loss). Includes, but is not limited to, foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated as economic hedges of a net investment in foreign entity, gain (loss) and prior service cost (credit) for pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66004124&loc=d3e526-108580 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ScheduleOfComprehensiveIncomeLossTableTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration