CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 27, 2014	Dec. 28, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 259,858	$ 311,800
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $981 in 2014 and $2,391 in 2013	332,508	271,847
Inventories	282,493	251,716
Current deferred income taxes	8,963	8,106
Other current assets	40,356	31,248
Total current assets	924,178	874,717
Property, plant, and equipment, net	246,169	244,457
Goodwill	103,242	94,357
Other assets	54,147	34,236
Total assets	1,327,736	1,247,767
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	37,207	29,083
Accounts payable	92,342	80,897
Accrued wages and other employee costs	34,577	37,109
Other current liabilities	69,197	72,167
Total current liabilities	233,323	219,256
Long-term debt, less current portion	205,500	206,250
Pension liabilities	9,299	10,645
Postretirement benefits other than pensions	16,561	16,781
Environmental reserves	21,557	22,144
Deferred income taxes	33,342	35,975
Other noncurrent liabilities	581	849
Total liabilities	520,163	511,900
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 80,183,004; outstanding 56,885,661 in 2014 and 56,604,674(10) in 2013	802	401
Additional paid-in capital	267,361	267,142
Retained earnings	979,079	908,274
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(15,309)	(10,819)
Treasury common stock, at cost	(457,371)	(461,593)
Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity	774,562	703,405
Noncontrolling interest	33,011	32,462
Total equity	807,573	735,867
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,327,736	$ 1,247,767