CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 29, 2012	Sep. 24, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Cash received from customers	$ 20,587,069	$ 19,796,702
Cash paid to employees and suppliers	(17,958,788)	(17,392,751)
Income taxes paid	(638,757)	(535,358)
Self-insured claims paid	(215,979)	(208,424)
Dividends and interest received	130,603	97,757
Other operating cash receipts	155,707	146,617
Other operating cash payments	(10,052)	(10,838)
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,049,803	1,893,705
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payment for capital expenditures	(490,484)	(400,599)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	4,357	4,399
Payment for investments	(1,446,264)	(1,501,096)
Proceeds from sale and maturity of investments	672,022	537,936
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,260,369)	(1,359,360)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payment for acquisition of common stock	(410,194)	(380,252)
Proceeds from sale of common stock	158,756	163,824
Dividends paid	(464,626)	(418,680)
Repayment of long-term debt	(17,432)	(24,073)
Other, net	1,219	(2,109)
Net cash used in financing activities	(732,277)	(661,290)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	57,157	(126,945)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	366,853	605,901
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	424,010	478,956
Reconciliation of net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net earnings	1,159,468	1,092,438
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	368,316	371,258
Retirement contributions paid or payable in common stock	223,052	224,567
Deferred income taxes	(23,113)	25,836
Loss on disposal and impairment of property, plant and equipment	13,705	6,443
Gain on AFS securities	(7,889)	(19,672)
Net amortization of investments	79,458	55,862
Changes in operating assets and liabilities providing (requiring) cash:
Trade receivables	40,406	15,010
Merchandise inventories	(1,553)	48,075
Prepaid expenses and other noncurrent assets	(5,572)	(13,655)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	244,100	75,101
Self-insurance reserves	5,264	12,096
Federal and state income taxes	(48,219)	8,687
Other noncurrent liabilities	2,380	(8,341)
Total adjustments	890,335	801,267
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 2,049,803	$ 1,893,705