CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 198,934	$ 514,162
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,644 in 2012 and $1,564 in 2011	271,093	250,027
Inventories	229,434	219,193
Current deferred income taxes	26,438	21,104
Other current assets	21,295	22,213
Total current assets	747,194	1,026,699
Property, plant, and equipment, net	233,263	203,744
Goodwill, net	104,579	102,250
Other assets	19,119	14,911
Total Assets	1,104,155	1,347,604
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	27,570	41,265
Accounts payable	87,574	65,545
Accrued wages and other employee costs	34,378	39,319
Other current liabilities	109,174	67,115
Total current liabilities	258,696	213,244
Long-term debt, less current portion	207,300	156,476
Pension liabilities	35,187	32,839
Postretirement benefits other than pensions	19,832	21,405
Environmental reserves	22,597	22,892
Deferred income taxes	20,910	14,856
Other noncurrent liabilities	1,667	1,130
Total liabilities	566,189	462,842
Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock - $1.00 par value; shares authorized 5,000,000; none outstanding	0	0
Common stock - $.01 par value; shares authorized 100,000,000; issued 40,091,502; outstanding 28,099,635 in 2012 and 38,236,568 in 2011	401	401
Additional paid-in capital	267,826	266,936
Retained earnings	749,777	682,380
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(42,623)	(49,409)
Treasury common stock, at cost	(468,473)	(44,620)
Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity	506,908	855,688
Noncontrolling interest	31,058	29,074
Total equity	537,966	884,762
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 1,104,155	$ 1,347,604