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ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS (LOSSES) (AOCE) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses), beginning balance | $ (221,091) |  |
Reclassification of cumulative currency translation | 0 | $ 0 | $ (9,042)
Net current period activity | (50,297) | (124,950) | (135,467)
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses), ending balance | (272,294) | (221,091) |
Foreign Currency Translation |  |  |
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses), beginning balance | (276,416) | (122,320) | (7,297)
Other comprehensive earnings (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax | (38,729) | (154,096) | (124,065)
Reclassification of cumulative currency translation | 0 | 0 | 9,042
Tax impact from reclassification of foreign currency translation | 0 | 0 | 0
Net current period activity | (38,729) | (154,096) | (115,023)
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses), ending balance | (315,145) | (276,416) | (122,320)
Defined Postretirement Benefit Plan |  |  |
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses), beginning balance | 35,353 | 8,148 | 34,887
Other comprehensive earnings (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax | (6,022) | 30,451 | (22,667)
Reclassification of postretirement and other employment-related benefit plans | (6,559) | (5,289) | (6,617)
Tax impact from reclassification of postretirement and other-employment related benefit plans | 2,525 | 2,043 | 2,545
Net current period activity | (10,056) | 27,205 | (26,739)
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses), ending balance | 25,297 | 35,353 | 8,148
Other Employment-related Benefit Plans |  |  |
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses), beginning balance | (2,661) | (3,302) | (8,811)
Other comprehensive earnings (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax | (2,397) | 641 | (1,462)
Reclassification of postretirement and other employment-related benefit plans | 0 | 0 | 9,295
Tax impact from reclassification of postretirement and other-employment related benefit plans | 0 | 0 | (2,324)
Net current period activity | (2,397) | 641 | 5,509
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses), ending balance | (5,058) | (2,661) | (3,302)
Other |  |  |
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses), beginning balance | (885) | (2,185) | (2,971)
Other comprehensive earnings (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax | 885 | 1,300 | 786
Reclassification of other | 0 | 0 | 0
Tax impact from reclassification of other |  | 0 | 0
Net current period activity | 885 | 1,300 | 786
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses), ending balance | 0 | (885) | (2,185)
Total AOCE (before NCI) |  |  |
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses), beginning balance | (244,609) | (119,659) | 15,808
Other comprehensive earnings (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax | (46,263) | (121,704) | (147,408)
Total reclassifications | (6,559) | (5,289) | 11,720
Total tax impact from all reclassifications | 2,525 | 2,043 | 221
Net current period activity | (50,297) | (124,950) | (135,467)
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses), ending balance | (294,906) | (244,609) | (119,659)
Foreign Currency Translation Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests |  |  |
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses), beginning balance | (23,518) | (22,986) | (13,106)
Other comprehensive earnings (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax | 906 | (532) | (9,880)
Reclassification of cumulative currency translation | 0 | 0 | 0
Tax impact from reclassification of foreign currency translation | 0 | 0 | 0
Net current period activity | 906 | (532) | (9,880)
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses), ending balance | (22,612) | (23,518) | (22,986)
AOCE Attributable to W.W. Grainger, Inc. |  |  |
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses), beginning balance | (221,091) | (96,673) | 28,914
Other comprehensive earnings (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax | (47,169) | (121,172) | (137,528)
Total reclassifications | (6,559) | (5,289) | 11,720
Total tax impact from all reclassifications | 2,525 | 2,043 | 221
Net current period activity | (51,203) | (124,418) | (125,587)
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (losses), ending balance | $ (272,294) | $ (221,091) | $ (96,673)

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- Definition Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66004124&loc=d3e637-108580 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66004124&loc=d3e681-108580 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66004124&loc=SL7669686-108580 + Details
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