CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jul. 02, 2016	Dec. 26, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 283,161	$ 274,844
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $565 in 2016 and $623 in 2015	305,332	251,571
Inventories	249,954	239,378
Other current assets	27,276	34,608
Total current assets	865,723	800,401
Property, plant, and equipment, net	297,939	280,224
Goodwill, net	128,339	120,252
Intangible assets, net	39,050	40,636
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	70,077	65,900
Other assets	19,347	31,388
Total assets	1,420,475	1,338,801
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	16,226	11,760
Accounts payable	105,138	88,051
Accrued wages and other employee costs	31,199	35,636
Other current liabilities	65,387	73,982
Total current liabilities	217,950	209,429
Long-term debt, less current portion	213,646	204,250
Pension liabilities	15,435	17,449
Postretirement benefits other than pensions	17,268	17,427
Environmental reserves	20,830	20,943
Deferred income taxes	13,644	7,161
Other noncurrent liabilities	2,930	2,440
Total liabilities	501,703	479,099
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 57,167,406 in 2016 and 57,158,608 in 2015	802	802
Additional paid-in capital	274,928	271,158
Retained earnings	1,110,010	1,063,543
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(59,472)	(54,990)
Treasury common stock, at cost	(453,613)	(453,228)
Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity	872,655	827,285
Noncontrolling interests	46,117	32,417
Total equity	918,772	859,702
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,420,475	$ 1,338,801

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.