Note 10: Shareowners' Equity and Noncontrolling Interest (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | Sep. 30, 2011 | Sep. 30, 2010 | |
| Equity, beginning of period | $ 23,739,000,000 | $ 20,915,000,000 | $ 22,332,000,000 | $ 20,999,000,000 |
| Redeemable noncontrolling interest, beginning of period | 348,000,000 | 311,000,000 | 317,000,000 | 389,000,000 |
| Net income | 1,421,000,000 | 1,299,000,000 | 3,952,000,000 | 3,458,000,000 |
| Foreign currency translation, net | (757,000,000) | 853,000,000 | (50,000,000) | 8,000,000 |
| Increases (decreases) in unrealized gains from available-for-sale securities, net | (111,000,000) | 25,000,000 | (40,000,000) | 33,000,000 |
| Cash flow hedging gains (losses) | (106,000,000) | 25,000,000 | (87,000,000) | (18,000,000) |
| Change in pension and post-retirement benefit plans, net | 79,000,000 | 23,000,000 | 193,000,000 | 104,000,000 |
| Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | (895,000,000) | 926,000,000 | 16,000,000 | 127,000,000 |
| Total comprehensive income for the period | 526,000,000 | 2,225,000,000 | 3,968,000,000 | 3,585,000,000 |
| Common Stock issued under employee plans | 119,000,000 | 113,000,000 | 566,000,000 | 439,000,000 |
| Common Stock repurchased | (675,000,000) | (490,000,000) | (2,175,000,000) | (1,650,000,000) |
| Common Stock Contributed To Defined Benefit Pension Plans Value | 450,000,000 | 0 | 450,000,000 | 250,000,000 |
| Dividends on Common Stock | (411,000,000) | (370,000,000) | (1,192,000,000) | (1,114,000,000) |
| Dividends on ESOP Common Stock | (16,000,000) | (16,000,000) | (47,000,000) | (47,000,000) |
| Dividends attributable to noncontrolling interest | (82,000,000) | (86,000,000) | (248,000,000) | (233,000,000) |
| Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest | (68,000,000) | (8,000,000) | (68,000,000) | (14,000,000) |
| Sale of subsidiary shares in noncontrolling interest | 2,000,000 | 9,000,000 | 13,000,000 | 36,000,000 |
| Acquired noncontrolling interest | 8,000,000 | 0 | 13,000,000 | 29,000,000 |
| Disposition noncontrolling interest | (1,000,000) | (18,000,000) | (1,000,000) | (18,000,000) |
| Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries' earnings | (4,000,000) | (6,000,000) | (15,000,000) | (22,000,000) |
| Redeemable noncontrolling interest in other comprehensive income (loss) | 4,000,000 | (20,000,000) | (2,000,000) | 5,000,000 |
| Change in redemption value of put options | (3,000,000) | 5,000,000 | (6,000,000) | 8,000,000 |
| Equity, end of period | 23,588,000,000 | 22,253,000,000 | 23,588,000,000 | 22,253,000,000 |
| Redeemable noncontrolling interest, end of period | 327,000,000 | 318,000,000 | 327,000,000 | 318,000,000 |
| Net income attributable to common shareowners | 1,324,000,000 | 1,198,000,000 | 3,654,000,000 | 3,174,000,000 |
| Transfer to noncontrolling interest: Increase in common stock for sale of subsidiary shares | 0 | 0 | 3,000,000 | 0 |
| Transfers to noncontrolling interests - Decrease in common stock for purchase of subsidiary shares | (51,000,000) | 0 | (51,000,000) | (2,000,000) |
| Change from net income attributable to common shareowners and transfers to noncontrolling interest | 1,273,000,000 | 1,198,000,000 | 3,606,000,000 | 3,172,000,000 |
Shareowners' Equity [Member] | ||||
| Equity, beginning of period | 22,723,000,000 | 19,933,000,000 | 21,385,000,000 | 20,066,000,000 |
| Net income | 1,324,000,000 | 1,198,000,000 | 3,654,000,000 | 3,174,000,000 |
| Foreign currency translation, net | (732,000,000) | 808,000,000 | (63,000,000) | 11,000,000 |
| Increases (decreases) in unrealized gains from available-for-sale securities, net | (111,000,000) | 25,000,000 | (40,000,000) | 33,000,000 |
| Cash flow hedging gains (losses) | (106,000,000) | 25,000,000 | (87,000,000) | (18,000,000) |
| Change in pension and post-retirement benefit plans, net | 79,000,000 | 23,000,000 | 193,000,000 | 104,000,000 |
| Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | (870,000,000) | 881,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 130,000,000 |
| Total comprehensive income for the period | 454,000,000 | 2,079,000,000 | 3,657,000,000 | 3,304,000,000 |
| Common Stock issued under employee plans | 119,000,000 | 113,000,000 | 566,000,000 | 439,000,000 |
| Common Stock repurchased | (675,000,000) | (490,000,000) | (2,175,000,000) | (1,650,000,000) |
| Common Stock Contributed To Defined Benefit Pension Plans Value | 450,000,000 | 0 | 450,000,000 | 250,000,000 |
| Dividends on Common Stock | (411,000,000) | (370,000,000) | (1,192,000,000) | (1,114,000,000) |
| Dividends on ESOP Common Stock | (16,000,000) | (16,000,000) | (47,000,000) | (47,000,000) |
| Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest | (51,000,000) | 0 | (51,000,000) | (2,000,000) |
| Sale of subsidiary shares in noncontrolling interest | 0 | 0 | 3,000,000 | 0 |
| Change in redemption value of put options | (3,000,000) | 5,000,000 | (6,000,000) | 8,000,000 |
| Equity, end of period | 22,590,000,000 | 21,254,000,000 | 22,590,000,000 | 21,254,000,000 |
Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | ||||
| Equity, beginning of period | 1,016,000,000 | 982,000,000 | 947,000,000 | 933,000,000 |
| Net income | 97,000,000 | 101,000,000 | 298,000,000 | 284,000,000 |
| Foreign currency translation, net | (25,000,000) | 45,000,000 | 13,000,000 | (3,000,000) |
| Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | (25,000,000) | 45,000,000 | 13,000,000 | (3,000,000) |
| Total comprehensive income for the period | 72,000,000 | 146,000,000 | 311,000,000 | 281,000,000 |
| Dividends attributable to noncontrolling interest | (82,000,000) | (86,000,000) | (248,000,000) | (233,000,000) |
| Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest | (17,000,000) | (8,000,000) | (17,000,000) | (12,000,000) |
| Sale of subsidiary shares in noncontrolling interest | 2,000,000 | 9,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 36,000,000 |
| Acquired noncontrolling interest | 8,000,000 | 0 | 13,000,000 | 29,000,000 |
| Disposition noncontrolling interest | (1,000,000) | (18,000,000) | (1,000,000) | (18,000,000) |
| Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries' earnings | (4,000,000) | (6,000,000) | (15,000,000) | (22,000,000) |
| Redeemable noncontrolling interest in other comprehensive income (loss) | 4,000,000 | (20,000,000) | (2,000,000) | 5,000,000 |
| Equity, end of period | 998,000,000 | 999,000,000 | 998,000,000 | 999,000,000 |
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Member] | ||||
| Net income | 4,000,000 | 6,000,000 | 15,000,000 | 22,000,000 |
| Foreign currency translation, net | (4,000,000) | 20,000,000 | 2,000,000 | (5,000,000) |
| Dividends attributable to noncontrolling interest | 0 | (3,000,000) | (11,000,000) | (16,000,000) |
| Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest | (2,000,000) | 0 | (2,000,000) | (65,000,000) |
| Change in redemption value of put options | 3,000,000 | (5,000,000) | 6,000,000 | (8,000,000) |
| Other Changes In Noncontrolling Interest | $ (22,000,000) | $ (11,000,000) | $ 0 | $ 1,000,000 |