CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 26, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 351,317	$ 274,844
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $637 in 2016 and $623 in 2015	256,291	251,571
Inventories	242,013	239,378
Other current assets	44,702	34,608
Total current assets	894,323	800,401
Property, plant, and equipment, net	295,231	280,224
Goodwill, net	123,993	120,252
Intangible assets, net	36,168	40,636
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	77,110	65,900
Other noncurrent assets	20,651	31,388
Total Assets	1,447,476	1,338,801
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	13,655	11,760
Accounts payable	103,175	88,051
Accrued wages and other employee costs	35,121	35,636
Other current liabilities	67,041	73,982
Total current liabilities	218,992	209,429
Long-term debt, less current portion	213,709	204,250
Pension liabilities	14,890	17,449
Postretirement benefits other than pensions	16,383	17,427
Environmental reserves	21,208	20,943
Deferred income taxes	19,573	7,161
Other noncurrent liabilities	6,284	2,440
Total liabilities	511,039	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 57,395,209 in 2016 and 57,158,608 in 2015	802	802
Additional paid-in capital	273,345	271,158
Retained earnings	1,141,831	1,063,543
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(66,956)	(54,990)
Treasury common stock, at cost	(450,338)	(453,228)
Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity	898,684	827,285
Noncontrolling interests	37,753	32,417
Total equity	936,437	859,702
Commitments and contingencies
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 1,447,476	$ 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.