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Supplemental Information (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]  
Asset allocation
ASSET ALLOCATION
Other pension plans Principal retiree
Principal pension plans(weighted average)benefit plans
201520152015201520152015
TargetActualTargetActualTargetActual
December 31allocationallocationallocationallocationallocationallocation
Equity securities17 - 57%47%37%40%35 - 75%59%
Debt securities (including cash equivalents)13 - 5329374011 - 4627
Private equities8 - 1811540 - 2511
Real estate2 - 127980 - 121
Other investments3 - 1361280 - 102
Estimated future benefit payments
ESTIMATED FUTURE BENEFIT PAYMENTS
2021 -
(In millions)201620172018201920202025
Principal pension plans$3,395$3,485$3,610$3,705$3,785$20,145
Other pension plans8558708758859054,835
Principal retiree benefit plans6256005905755602,500
Cost of postretirement benefit plans and changes in other comprehensive income
2015 COST OF POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS AND CHANGES IN OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Principal
TotalPrincipalOtherretiree
postretirementpensionpensionbenefit
(In millions)benefit plansplansplansplans
Cost of postretirement benefit plans$5,045$4,498$373 $174
Changes in other comprehensive income
      Prior service cost (credit) – current year(2,401)902 (12) (3,291)
      Net actuarial loss (gain) – current year(1,604)(1,022)(164) (418)
Net curtailment/gain (loss)76(105)6175
      Prior service credit (cost) amortization(197)(205) - 8
      Net actuarial gain (loss) amortization(3,552)(3,288) (289) 25
Total changes in other comprehensive income(7,678)(3,718) (459)(3,501)
Cost of postretirement benefit plans and
   changes in other comprehensive income$(2,633)$780$(86)$(3,327)
Other pension plans and principal retiree benefit plans [Member]  
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]  
Cost of Benefit Plans [Table Text Block]
COST OF BENEFIT PLANS
Other pension plansPrincipal retiree benefit plans
(In millions) 2015 2014 2013 2015 2014 2013
Service cost for benefits earned$416$403 $435 $145$164 $229
Prior service cost (credit) amortization - 6 7 (8) 353 393
Expected return on plan assets(881)(789)(663)(48)(50)(60)
Interest cost on benefit obligations 555 587 523 335 424 410
Net actuarial loss (gain) amortization 289 205 343 (25) (150) (45)
Curtailment loss (gain)(6)--(225)(a)48 -
Benefit plans cost$373$412 $645 $174$789 $927

(a) Gain principally resulting from life insurance amendment.

Assumptions used to measure pension benefit obligations
ASSUMPTIONS USED TO MEASURE BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS
Other pension plans (weighted average)Principal retiree benefit plans
December 31201520142013201520142013
Discount rate3.33%3.53%4.39%3.93%3.89%4.61%
Compensation increases3.32 3.60 3.76 3.80 4.10 4.00
Initial healthcare trend rateN/AN/AN/A6.00(a)6.006.00

(a) For 2015, ultimately declining to 5% for 2030 and thereafter.

Assumptions used to measure pension costs
ASSUMPTIONS USED TO MEASURE BENEFIT COST
Other pension plans (weighted average)Principal retiree benefit plans
December 31201520142013201520142013
Discount rate3.53%4.39%3.92%3.89%(a)4.61%(a)3.74%(a)
Expected return on assets6.95 6.92 6.82 7.00 7.00 7.00

(a) Weighted average discount rates of 3.92%, 4.47% and 3.77% were used for determination of costs in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Benefit obligations
BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS
Other pension plansPrincipal retiree benefit plans
(In millions)2015201420152014
Balance at January 1$15,589$13,535$10,703 $9,913
Service cost for benefits earned416403 145 164
Interest cost on benefit obligations555587 335 424
Participant contributions159 50 52
Plan amendments(12)(29) (3,291)(a) (586)
Actuarial loss (gain)(406)(b)2,170(b) (444)(b) 1,440(c)
Benefits paid(576)(493) (691) (704)
Acquisitions (dispositions)/ other - net6,859(d)48(50)-
Exchange rate adjustments(822)(641)--
Balance at December 31(e)$21,618$15,589$6,757 $10,703

  • Principally related to plan amendments affecting post-65 retiree health and retiree life insurance for certain production participants.
  • Primarily associated with discount rate changes.
  • Principally associated with discount rate and mortality assumption changes.
  • Substantially all related to Alstom acquisition.
  • The benefit obligation for retiree health plans was $4,838 million and $8,445 million at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Fair value of pension plans' investments
Other pension plansPrincipal retiree benefit plans
December 31 (in millions)2015201420152014
Equity securities
   U.S. equity securities$667$635$203$205
   Non-U.S. equity securities6,3235,285162125
Debt securities
   Fixed income and cash investment funds6,2584,07184133
   U.S. corporate2422225247
   Other debt securities55136593103
Private equities7032627594
Real estate1,358690664
Other investments1,2668562042
Total plan assets$17,368$12,386$695$813
Changes in level 3 investments
FAIR VALUE OF PLAN ASSETS
Other pension plansPrincipal retiree benefit plans
(In millions)2015201420152014
Balance at January 1$12,386$11,059$813$903
Actual gain on plan assets3811,537 22 44
Employer contributions549726 501 518
Participant contributions159 50 52
Benefits paid(576)(493) (691) (704)
Acquisitions (dispositions) / other - net5,207(a)- - -
Exchange rate adjustments(594)(452) - -
Balance at December 31$17,368$12,386$695$813

(a) Substantially all related to Alstom acquisition.

GE Pension Plan  
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]  
Changes in level 3 investments
CHANGES IN LEVEL 3 INVESTMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015
Purchases,Transfers
issuancesin and/or
January 1,Net realizedNet unrealizedandout ofDecember 31,
(In millions)2015gains (losses)gains (losses)settlementsLevel 32015
Debt securities$6$(3)$3$(3)$(1)$2
Private equities5,217432189(968)-4,870
Real estate3,129122246(360)493,186
Other investments2,24822(52)7162,295
$10,600$573$386$(1,260)$54$10,353

CHANGES IN LEVEL 3 INVESTMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2014
Purchases,Transfers
issuancesin and/or
January 1,Net realizedNet unrealizedandout ofDecember 31,
(In millions)2014gains (losses)gains (losses)settlementsLevel 32014
Debt securities$-$(9)$11$4$-$6
Private equities6,269592(54)(1,565)(25)5,217
Real estate3,35436334(595)-3,129
Other investments1,62247861942992,248
$11,245$666$377$(1,962)$274$10,600
Asset allocation
Principal pension plans
December 31 (in millions)20152014
Equity securities
   U.S. equity securities(a)$12,447$12,956
   Non-U.S. equity securities(a)9,0889,153
Debt securities
   Fixed income and cash investment funds3,2524,500
   U.S. corporate(b)5,5295,155
   Other debt securities(c)5,1315,729
Private equities(a)4,8855,249
Real estate(a)3,1863,129
Other investments(d)2,2022,409
Total plan assets$45,720$48,280

(a) Included direct investments and investment funds.

(b) Primarily represented investment-grade bonds of U.S. issuers from diverse industries.

(c) Primarily represented investments in residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, non-U.S. corporate and government bonds and U.S. government, federal agency, state and municipal debt.

(d) Substantially all represented hedge fund investments.