CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 26, 2015	Dec. 27, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 220,745	$ 352,134
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $623 in 2015 and $666 in 2014	299,417	275,065
Inventories	250,799	256,585
Other current assets	54,538	57,429
Total current assets	825,499	941,213
Property, plant, and equipment, net	270,655	245,910
Goodwill	163,063	102,909
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiary	63,709	0
Other assets	50,600	38,064
Total assets	1,373,526	1,328,096
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	13,756	36,194
Accounts payable	113,597	100,735
Accrued wages and other employee costs	34,042	41,595
Other current liabilities	68,146	59,545
Total current liabilities	229,541	238,069
Long-term debt, less current portion	204,500	205,250
Pension liabilities	17,323	20,070
Postretirement benefits other than pensions	26,701	21,486
Environmental reserves	21,566	21,842
Deferred income taxes	22,142	24,556
Other noncurrent liabilities	3,570	1,389
Total liabilities	525,343	532,662
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 57,158,013 in 2015 and 56,901,445 in 2014	802	802
Additional paid-in capital	269,529	268,575
Retained earnings	1,053,395	992,798
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(55,084)	(42,923)
Treasury common stock, at cost	(453,209)	(457,102)
Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity	815,433	762,150
Noncontrolling interest	32,750	33,284
Total equity	$ 848,183	$ 795,434
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,373,526	$ 1,328,096

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.