CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 275,065	$ 274,146
Accounts receivable (less allowances for doubtful accounts of $32,174 and $26,690 respectively)	1,369,626	1,223,096
Inventories – net	1,397,804	1,406,470
Prepaid expenses and other assets	106,659	81,766
Prepaid income taxes	37,193	34,751
Total current assets	3,186,347	3,020,229
PROPERTY, BUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT	3,410,237	3,411,502
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization	2,018,041	1,990,611
Property, buildings and equipment – net	1,392,196	1,420,891
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES	79,264	64,775
GOODWILL	536,580	527,150
INTANGIBLES - NET	592,473	586,126
OTHER ASSETS	75,021	75,136
TOTAL ASSETS	5,861,881	5,694,307
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Short-term debt	129,066	386,140
Current maturities of long-term debt	29,232	19,966
Trade accounts payable	692,689	650,092
Accrued compensation and benefits	197,073	212,525
Accrued contributions to employees’ profit sharing plans	48,905	54,948
Accrued expenses	291,226	290,207
Income taxes payable	22,387	15,059
Total current liabilities	1,410,578	1,628,937
LONG-TERM DEBT (less current maturities)	2,267,872	1,840,946
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES AND TAX UNCERTAINTIES	135,270	126,101
EMPLOYMENT-RELATED AND OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES	199,965	192,555
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Cumulative Preferred Stock – $5 par value – 12,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding	0	0
Common Stock – $0.50 par value – 300,000,000 shares authorized; 109,659,219 shares issued	54,830	54,830
Additional contributed capital	1,034,980	1,030,256
Retained earnings	7,239,159	7,113,559
Accumulated other comprehensive losses	(203,604)	(272,294)
Treasury stock, at cost – 51,968,546 and 50,854,905 shares, respectively	(6,402,037)	(6,128,416)
Total W.W. Grainger, Inc. shareholders’ equity	1,723,328	1,797,935
Noncontrolling interest	124,868	107,833
Total shareholders' equity	1,848,196	1,905,768
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY	$ 5,861,881	$ 5,694,307