Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 26, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 438,319	$ 352,176
Short-term investments	1,591,740	1,376,698
Trade receivables	715,292	723,685
Merchandise inventories	1,722,392	1,740,513
Deferred tax assets	77,496	51,216
Prepaid expenses	50,434	70,145
Total current assets	4,595,673	4,314,433
Long-term investments	5,146,878	5,226,236
Other noncurrent assets	434,280	431,311
Property, plant and equipment:
Land	1,415,565	1,157,619
Buildings and improvements	4,066,743	3,467,015
Furniture, fixtures and equipment	4,581,924	4,303,132
Leasehold improvements	1,727,952	1,635,791
Construction in progress	189,448	148,755
Property, plant and equipment	11,981,632	10,712,312
Accumulated depreciation	(4,694,509)	(4,325,014)
Net property, plant and equipment	7,287,123	6,387,298
Total assets	17,463,954	16,359,278
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	1,609,652	1,675,858
Accrued expenses:
Contributions to retirement plans	525,668	513,072
Self-insurance reserves	139,554	135,865
Salaries and wages	127,856	131,253
Other	414,197	380,314
Current portion of long-term debt	113,999	56,693
Federal and state income taxes	12,787	9,634
Total current liabilities	2,943,713	2,902,689
Deferred tax liabilities	473,980	425,132
Self-insurance reserves	216,125	214,474
Accrued postretirement benefit cost	102,540	101,725
Long-term debt	136,585	179,753
Other noncurrent liabilities	93,574	104,243
Total liabilities	3,966,517	3,928,016
Common stock related to Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)	3,068,097	2,953,878
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock of $1 par value. Authorized 1,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 763,198 shares in 2016 and 770,175 shares in 2015	763,198	770,175
Additional paid-in capital	2,849,947	2,556,391
Retained earnings	9,836,696	9,041,497
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings	23,427	26,268
Common stock related to ESOP	(3,068,097)	(2,953,878)
Total stockholders’ equity	10,405,171	9,440,453
Noncontrolling interests	24,169	36,931
Total equity	13,497,437	12,431,262
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 17,463,954	$ 16,359,278