CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Oct. 01, 2016	Dec. 26, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 297,793	$ 274,844
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $554 in 2016 and $623 in 2015	295,672	251,571
Inventories	251,130	239,378
Other current assets	28,999	34,608
Total current assets	873,594	800,401
Property, plant, and equipment, net	289,074	280,224
Goodwill, net	128,004	120,252
Intangible assets, net	37,386	40,636
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	79,199	65,900
Other assets	18,864	31,388
Total assets	1,426,121	1,338,801
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	16,907	11,760
Accounts payable	92,451	88,051
Accrued wages and other employee costs	34,447	35,636
Other current liabilities	58,395	73,982
Total current liabilities	202,200	209,429
Long-term debt, less current portion	213,847	204,250
Pension liabilities	14,517	17,449
Postretirement benefits other than pensions	17,021	17,427
Environmental reserves	20,708	20,943
Deferred income taxes	19,106	7,161
Other noncurrent liabilities	2,118	2,440
Total liabilities	489,517	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 57,378,695 in 2016 and 57,158,608 in 2015	802	802
Additional paid-in capital	271,476	271,158
Retained earnings	1,130,249	1,063,543
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(58,401)	(54,990)
Treasury common stock, at cost	(450,354)	(453,228)
Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity	893,772	827,285
Noncontrolling interests	42,832	32,417
Total equity	936,604	859,702
Commitments and contingencies
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,426,121	$ 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.