CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 146,891	$ 351,317
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $962 in 2017 and $637 in 2016	312,095	256,291
Inventories	251,958	242,013
Other current assets	45,141	44,702
Total current assets	756,085	894,323
Property, plant, and equipment, net	296,360	295,231
Goodwill, net	124,272	123,993
Intangible assets, net	35,573	36,168
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	73,367	77,110
Other assets	19,264	20,651
Total assets	1,304,921	1,447,476
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	14,939	13,655
Accounts payable	117,251	103,175
Accrued wages and other employee costs	28,348	35,121
Other current liabilities	71,150	67,041
Total current liabilities	231,688	218,992
Long-term debt, less current portion	489,787	213,709
Pension liabilities	14,429	14,890
Postretirement benefits other than pensions	16,583	16,383
Environmental reserves	20,993	21,208
Deferred income taxes	18,249	19,573
Other noncurrent liabilities	6,447	6,284
Total liabilities	798,176	511,039
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 57,602,082 in 2017 and 57,395,209 in 2016	802	802
Additional paid-in capital	273,129	273,345
Retained earnings	705,240	1,141,831
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(62,041)	(66,956)
Treasury common stock, at cost	(449,255)	(450,338)
Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity	467,875	898,684
Noncontrolling interests	38,870	37,753
Total equity	506,745	936,437
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,304,921	$ 1,447,476

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.