Amount that the carrying value of goodwill exceeds the fair value in a reporting unit

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- Definition

Assumed discount rate used when estimating the fair value of a reporting unit.

+ References

No definition available.

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Upper limit of the discount rates used in reporting unit valuations

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Lower limit of the discount rates used in reporting unit valuations

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- Definition

Changes in goodwill related to dispositions, currency exchange and other effects.

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- Definition

The amount that the estimated implied fair value of goodwill exceeded the carrying value of a reporting unit.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount after amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

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- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the cumulative amount paid and (if applicable) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to the adoption of any changes in generally accepted accounting principles (as applicable) and for any impairment charges, in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions.

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- Definition

The aggregate amount of goodwill acquired in the period and allocated to the reportable segment. The value is stated at fair value based on the purchase price allocation.

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Change in the carrying value of goodwill. The change could be the result of new goodwill acquired, goodwill impairment, if any, goodwill written off related to the sale of a business or other adjustments to goodwill.

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Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges.

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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Goodwill) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill		$ 27,338,000,000	$ 27,230,000,000
Intangible assets subject to amortization		1,361,000,000	1,546,000,000
Total		1,361,000,000	1,546,000,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill		27,338,000,000	27,230,000,000
Acquisitions		0
Dispositions, currency exchange and other		108,000,000
Goodwill, period increase (decrease)		108,000,000
Discount rates used in reporting unit valuations minimum rate	11.00%
Discount rates used in reporting unit valuations maximum rate	12.75%
Discount Rate Goodwill Impairment	11.00%
Currency Exchange Effect On Goodwill [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, period increase (decrease)		173,000,000
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill	970,000,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	970,000,000
Amount Carrying Value Exceeds Estimated Fair Value	1,800,000,000
Implied Fair Value Of Goodwill Exceeding Carrying Value Of Goodwill	1,700,000,000
Real Estate Equity Investments [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Amount Carrying Value Exceeds Estimated Fair Value	2,600,000,000
CLL [Member]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill		13,775,000,000	13,745,000,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill		13,775,000,000	13,745,000,000
Acquisitions		0
Dispositions, currency exchange and other		30,000,000
Consumer [Member]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill		10,893,000,000	10,775,000,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill		10,893,000,000	10,775,000,000
Acquisitions		0
Dispositions, currency exchange and other		118,000,000
Real Estate [Member]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill		961,000,000	1,001,000,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill		961,000,000	1,001,000,000
Acquisitions		0
Dispositions, currency exchange and other		(40,000,000)
Energy Financial Services [Member]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill		1,562,000,000	1,562,000,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill		1,562,000,000	1,562,000,000
Acquisitions		0
Dispositions, currency exchange and other		0
GECAS [Member]
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill		147,000,000	147,000,000
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill		147,000,000	147,000,000
Acquisitions		0
Dispositions, currency exchange and other		$ 0