Business segment data (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of revenues and earnings by segment

Revenues by segment for the first quarter of 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in millions).

	First Quarter
	2018		2017
Operating Businesses:
Insurance:
Underwriting:
GEICO		$    7,915		$    6,845
Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group		3,540		13,232
Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group		1,918		1,676
Investment income		1,213		1,132
Total insurance		14,586		22,885
BNSF		5,624		5,185
Berkshire Hathaway Energy		4,512		4,231
Manufacturing		12,934		12,097
McLane Company		12,189		12,101
Service and retailing		6,587		6,093
Finance and financial products		2,063		1,849
		58,495		64,441
Reconciliation of segments to consolidated amount:
Corporate, eliminations and other		(22)		(71)
		$  58,473		$  64,370

Earnings before income taxes by segment for the first quarter of 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in millions).

	First Quarter
	2018		2017
Operating Businesses:
Insurance:
Underwriting:
GEICO		$     677		$     175
Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group		(258)		(743)
Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group		99		189
Investment income		1,205		1,129
Total insurance		1,723		750
BNSF		1,513		1,345
Berkshire Hathaway Energy		487		589
Manufacturing		1,855		1,487
McLane Company		60		88
Service and retailing		515		393
Finance and financial products		494		450
		6,647		5,102
Reconciliation of segments to consolidated amount:
Investment and derivative gains/losses		(8,015)		775
Interest expense, not allocated to segments		(337)		(211)
Equity method investments		401		281
Corporate, eliminations and other		(219)		(259)
	$	(1,523)	$	5,688