Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]

Changes in benefit obligation

	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
	2011			2010			2011			2010
	(In thousands)						(In thousands)
Changes in benefit obligation
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	1,689,011		$	1,502,084		$	12,329		$	13,511
Service cost		13,039			12,312			—			—
Interest cost		97,293			95,453			474			605
Plan participants’ contributions		3,887			3,672			3,412			3,787
Plan amendments		—			1,148			362			—
Actuarial loss (gain)		219,804			122,050			(3,911	)		340
Exchange rate changes		(4,656	)		7,082			—			—
Gross benefits paid		(59,979	)		(54,790	)		(5,326	)		(6,255	)
Less Federal subsidy		N/A			N/A			174			341
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	1,958,399		$	1,689,011		$	7,514		$	12,329

Assumptions used to measure pension and other postretirement benefit obligations for plans

	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
	2011			2010			2011			2010
Weighted-average discount rate		5.17	%		5.74	%		4.00	%		4.25	%
Rate of increase in future compensation levels		3.30	%		3.39	%		—			—

Changes in plan assets

	Pension Benefits						Other  Postretirement Benefits
	2011			2010			2011			2010
	(In thousands)						(In thousands)
Changes in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	1,439,711		$	1,216,415		$	—		$	—
Actual return on plan assets		31,528			175,967			—			—
Exchange rate changes		(3,598	)		7,131			—			—
Employer contributions		58,481			91,316			1,914			2,468
Plan participants’ contributions		3,887			3,672			3,412			3,787
Benefits paid		(59,979	)		(54,790	)		(5,326	)		(6,255	)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	1,470,030		$	1,439,711		$	—		$	—

Asset allocations for Company's funded pension plans

	Target Allocation 2012			Percentage of Plan Assets  at December 31
				2011			2010
Asset Category
Equity securities		69	%		69	%		70	%
Debt securities		31	%		31	%		30	%
		100	%		100	%		100	%

Fair value of plan assets

	2011
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(In thousands)
Equity Securities
Common stocks — mutual funds — equity	$	348,909	$	348,909	$	—	$	—
Genuine Parts Company		123,436		123,436		—		—
Other stocks		546,995		546,995		—		—
Debt Securities
Short-term investments		38,968		38,968		—		—
Cash and equivalents		16,888		16,888		—		—
Government bonds		145,966		66,334		79,632		—
Corporate bonds		127,698		—		127,698		—
Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities		21,441		—		21,441		—
Other-international		12,084		12,084		—		—
Municipal bonds		593		—		593		—
Mutual funds-fixed income		87,052		—		87,052		—
Total	$	1,470,030	$	1,153,614	$	316,416	$	—

	2010
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
	(In thousands)
Equity Securities
Common stocks — mutual funds — equity	$	353,347	$	353,347	$	—	$	—
Genuine Parts Company		103,549		103,549		—		—
Other stocks		551,516		551,516		—		—
Debt Securities
Short-term investments		38,126		38,126		—		—
Cash and equivalents		26,976		26,976		—		—
Government bonds		105,764		48,191		57,573		—
Corporate bonds		122,749		—		122,749		—
Asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities		32,271		—		32,271		—
Other-international		13,583		13,583		—		—
Municipal bonds		1,914		—		1,914		—
Mutual funds-fixed income		89,916		—		89,916		—
Total	$	1,439,711	$	1,135,288	$	304,423	$	—

Plan amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets

	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
	2011			2010			2011			2010
	(In thousands)						(In thousands)
Other long-term asset	$	4,374		$	4,405		$	—		$	—
Other current liability		(4,918	)		(4,403	)		(1,618	)		(2,824	)
Pension and other post-retirement liabilities		(487,825	)		(249,302	)		(5,896	)		(9,505	)
	$	(488,369	)	$	(249,300	)	$	(7,514	)	$	(12,329	)

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss

	Pension Benefits						Other Postretirement Benefits
	2011			2010			2011			2010
	(In thousands)						(In thousands)
Net actuarial loss	$	999,189		$	741,190		$	14,588		$	20,207
Prior service credit		(37,172	)		(44,142	)		(9,445	)		(10,737	)
	$	962,017		$	697,048		$	5,143		$	9,470

Expected cash flows for pension plans and other post retirement benefit plans

			Other Postretirement Benefits
	Pension Benefits		Gross		Expected  Federal Subsidy
	(In thousands)
Employer contribution
2012 (expected)	$	17,084	$	1,618	$	—
Expected benefit payments
2012	$	67,528	$	1,740	$	(122	)
2013		77,337		1,330		(70	)
2014		82,692		1,158		(56	)
2015		88,292		1,011		(53	)
2016		94,378		829		—
2017 through 2021		576,891		1,867		—

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

	Pension Benefits									Other Postretirement Benefits
	2011			2010			2009			2011			2010			2009
	(In thousands)									(In thousands)
Service cost	$	13,039		$	12,312		$	16,534		$	—		$	—		$	443
Interest cost		97,293			95,453			93,493			474			605			1,264
Expected return on plan assets		(124,150	)		(114,166	)		(113,370	)		—			—			—
Amortization of prior service credit		(6,970	)		(6,979	)		(7,010	)		(930	)		(1,059	)		(225	)
Amortization of actuarial loss		53,039			35,264			21,990			1,708			1,759			1,759
Curtailment gain		—			—			(4,298	)		—			—			—
Net periodic benefit cost	$	32,251		$	21,884		$	7,339		$	1,252		$	1,305		$	3,241

Other Changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income

	Pension Benefits									Other Postretirement Benefits
	2011			2010			2009			2011			2010			2009
	(In thousands)									(In thousands)
Current year actuarial loss (gain)	$	311,038		$	60,777		$	(125,816	)	$	(3,911	)	$	340		$	(1,190	)
Recognition of actuarial loss		(53,039	)		(35,264	)		(21,990	)		(1,708	)		(1,759	)		(1,759	)
Current year prior service cost (credit)		—			1,148			—			362			—			(13,182	)
Recognition of prior service cost		6,970			6,979			11,308			930			1,059			225
Total recognized in other comprehensive income	$	264,969		$	33,640		$	(136,498	)	$	(4,327	)	$	(360	)	$	(15,906	)
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income	$	297,220		$	55,524		$	(129,159	)	$	(3,075	)	$	945		$	(12,665	)

Estimated amounts that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss

	Pension Benefits			Other Post- retirement Benefits
	(In thousands)
Actuarial loss	$	70,884		$	1,266
Prior service credit		(6,959	)		(930	)
Total	$	63,925		$	336

Assumptions used in measuring net periodic benefit costs

	Pension Benefits									Other  Postretirement Benefits
	2011			2010			2009			2011			2010			2009
Weighted average discount rate		5.74	%		6.54	%		6.97	%		4.25	%		5.20	%		5.79	%
Rate of increase in future compensation levels		3.39	%		3.75	%		3.75	%		—			—			—
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets		7.87	%		8.00	%		8.00	%		—			—			—