CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 331,707	$ 430,644
Accounts receivable (less allowances for doubtful accounts of $21,254 and $20,096, respectively)	1,177,543	1,101,656
Inventories - net	1,317,467	1,305,520
Prepaid expenses and other assets	112,598	115,331
Deferred income taxes	66,468	75,819
Prepaid income taxes	24,770	15,315
Total current assets	3,030,553	3,044,285
PROPERTY, BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT	2,957,430	2,941,090
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization	1,708,342	1,732,528
Property, buildings and equipment - net	1,249,088	1,208,562
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES	16,382	16,209
GOODWILL	554,719	525,467
OTHER ASSETS AND INTANGIBLES - NET	460,570	471,805
TOTAL ASSETS	5,311,312	5,266,328
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Short-term debt	101,617	66,857
Current maturities of long-term debt	33,352	30,429
Trade accounts payable	513,829	510,634
Accrued compensation and benefits	160,712	185,905
Accrued contributions to employees' profit sharing plans	93,764	176,800
Accrued expenses	214,479	218,835
Income taxes payable	8,700	6,330
Total current liabilities	1,126,453	1,195,790
LONG-TERM DEBT (less current maturities)	432,485	445,513
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES AND TAX UNCERTAINTIES	112,319	113,585
EMPLOYMENT-RELATED AND OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES	192,031	184,604
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Cumulative Preferred Stock - $5 par value - 12,000,000 shares authorized; none issued nor outstanding	0	0
Common Stock - $0.50 par value - 300,000,000 shares authorized; issued 109,659,219 shares	54,830	54,830
Additional contributed capital	923,061	893,055
Retained earnings	6,105,729	5,822,612
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings	38,687	28,914
Treasury stock, at cost - 41,263,408 and 40,805,281 shares, respectively	(3,758,016)	(3,548,973)
Total W.W. Grainger, Inc. shareholders' equity	3,364,291	3,250,438
Noncontrolling Interest	83,733	76,398
Total shareholders' equity	3,448,024	3,326,836
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	$ 5,311,312	$ 5,266,328