Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified		Total	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Profit employed in the business	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Noncontrolling interests
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010		$ 10,864	$ 3,888	$ (10,397)	$ 21,384	$ (4,051)	$ 40
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Profit of consolidated and affliated companies		2,265	0	0	2,240	0	25
Foreign currency translation, net of tax		322	0	0	0	312	10
Pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax		198	0	0	0	196	2
Derivative financial instruments, net of tax		(9)	0	0	0	(9)	0
Available-for-sale securities , net of tax		8	0	0	0	8	0
Dividends declared		(581)	0	0	(581)	0	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interests		(2)	0	0	0	0	(2)
Common shares issued from treasury stock for stock-based compensation: 5,735,352 and 7,243,608 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively		96	10	86	0	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense		111	111	0	0	0	0
Net excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		156	156	0	0	0	0
Cat Japan share redemption	[1]	8	0	0	38	0	(30)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2011		13,436	4,165	(10,311)	23,081	(3,544)	45
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011		12,929	4,273	(10,281)	25,219	(6,328)	46
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Profit of consolidated and affliated companies		3,320	0	0	3,285	0	35
Foreign currency translation, net of tax		(158)	0	0	0	(134)	(24)
Pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax		224	0	0	0	219	5
Derivative financial instruments, net of tax		(27)	0	0	0	(27)	0
Available-for-sale securities , net of tax		14	0	0	0	13	1
Change in Ownership for Noncontrolling Interests		7	0	0	0	0	7
Dividends declared		(639)	0	0	(639)	0	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interests		(5)	0	0	0	0	(5)
Common shares issued from treasury stock for stock-based compensation: 5,735,352 and 7,243,608 for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively		25	(117)	142	0	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense		135	135	0	0	0	0
Net excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		156	156	0	0	0	0
Cat Japan share redemption	[1]	0	(74)	0	(23)	107	(10)
Balance at Jun. 30, 2012		$ 15,981	$ 4,373	$ (10,139)	$ 27,842	$ (6,150)	$ 55

[1] 1 See Notes 1 and 16 regarding the Cat Japan share redemption.