CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 106,344	$ 351,317
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $854 in 2017 and $637 in 2016	276,678	256,291
Inventories	284,114	242,013
Other current assets	25,692	44,702
Total current assets	692,828	894,323
Property, plant, and equipment, net	283,845	295,231
Goodwill, net	139,445	123,993
Intangible assets, net	36,943	36,168
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	73,664	77,110
Other assets	22,499	20,651
Total assets	1,249,224	1,447,476
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	14,450	13,655
Accounts payable	125,032	103,175
Accrued wages and other employee costs	34,096	35,121
Other current liabilities	71,581	67,041
Total current liabilities	245,159	218,992
Long-term debt, less current portion	388,818	213,709
Pension liabilities	14,947	14,890
Postretirement benefits other than pensions	16,930	16,383
Environmental reserves	21,365	21,208
Deferred income taxes	19,963	19,573
Other noncurrent liabilities	12,005	6,284
Total liabilities	719,187	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 57,804,707 in 2017 and 57,395,209 in 2016	802	802
Additional paid-in capital	272,667	273,345
Retained earnings	743,560	1,141,831
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(54,377)	(66,956)
Treasury common stock, at cost	(445,749)	(450,338)
Total Mueller Industries, Inc. stockholders' equity	516,903	898,684
Noncontrolling interests	13,134	37,753
Total equity	530,037	936,437
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Total liabilities and equity	$ 1,249,224	$ 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.