BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS - Business Segments (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2012	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales		$ 10,190.5	$ 9,435.5	$ 7,496.9
Segment Profit		1,436.5	1,332.6	931.0
Corporate overhead		(252.3)	(245.3)	(244.7)
Other-net		(301.9)	(255.7)	(184.9)
Restructuring charges and asset impairments		(175.1)	(69.3)	(231.7)
Loss on debt extinguishment	45.5	45.5	0	0
Interest income		10.1	26.5	8.7
Interest expense		(144.2)	(140.4)	(109.8)
Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes		527.6	648.4	168.6
Capital and Software Expenditures		386.0	302.1	185.5
Depreciation and Amortization		445.3	410.1	348.7
Total Assets		15,844.0	15,949.0	15,139.4
Construction and Do It Yourself
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales		5,193.7	5,007.6	4,147.6
Segment Profit		720.7	634.8	422.6
Capital and Software Expenditures		199.0	160.7	97.4
Depreciation and Amortization		139.7	132.2	114.4
Securities Industry
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital and Software Expenditures		65.3	49.3	27.8
Depreciation and Amortization		150.2	130.9	116.2
Industrial Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital and Software Expenditures		109.9	73.4	46.2
Depreciation and Amortization		116.7	106.3	75.2
Corporate Assets
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Assets		85.1	(10.6)	1,089.7
Continuing operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Assets		15,625.5	14,909.4	12,848.3
Continuing operations | Construction and Do It Yourself
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total Assets		7,439.7	7,474.4	7,392.6
Continuing operations | Securities Industry
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales		2,428.9	1,926.5	1,457.6
Segment Profit		305.6	297.1	252.9
Total Assets		4,728.9	4,152.1	2,327.2
Continuing operations | Industrial Segment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Sales		2,567.9	2,501.4	1,891.7
Segment Profit		410.2	400.7	255.5
Total Assets		3,456.9	3,282.9	3,128.5
Discontinued operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Capital and Software Expenditures		11.8	18.7	14.1
Depreciation and Amortization		38.7	40.7	42.9
Total Assets		$ 133.4	$ 1,050.2	$ 1,201.4