CASH FLOWS INFORMATION - GE Capital Cash Flows Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
All other operating activities
All other operating activities	$ 13,291	$ (12,655)	$ 7,160
Net decrease (increase) in GE Capital financing receivables
Net decrease (increase) in GE Capital financing receivables	805	200	1,043
All other investing activities
All other investing activities	6,704	2,960	(4,235)
Repayments and other reductions (maturities longer than 90 days)
Repayments and other reductions (maturities longer than 90 days)	(25,622)	(58,768)	(47,038)
All other financing activities
All other financing activities	(903)	(1,274)	(1,605)
GE Capital
All other operating activities
Cash collateral on derivative contracts	131	(428)	(1,936)
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities	(1,566)	(2,616)	4,860
Other	13,237	(10)	2,163
All other operating activities	11,802	(3,054)	5,087
Net decrease (increase) in GE Capital financing receivables
Increase in loans to customers	(41,393)	(65,055)	(65,306)
Principal collections from customers - loans	43,613	60,375	60,292
Investment in equipment for financing leases	(585)	(690)	(417)
Principal collections from customers - financing leases	1,011	856	734
Sales of financing receivables	251	3,235	4,923
Net decrease (increase) in GE Capital financing receivables	2,897	(1,279)	226
All other investing activities
Purchases of investment securities	(2,867)	(18,588)	(7,790)
Dispositions and maturities of investment securities	10,001	7,343	9,587
Decrease (increase) in other assets - investments	(8,457)	9,202	(1,439)
Other	4,375	3,690	(5,025)
All other investing activities	3,052	1,647	(4,667)
Repayments and other reductions (maturities longer than 90 days)
Short-term (91 to 365 days)	(18,591)	(44,519)	(42,110)
Long-term (longer than one year)	(2,054)	(13,418)	(2,455)
Principal payments - non-recourse, leveraged leases	(362)	(348)	(283)
Repayments and other reductions (maturities longer than 90 days)	(21,007)	(58,285)	(44,848)
All other financing activities
Proceeds from sales of investment contracts	10	19	163
Redemption of investment contracts	(344)	(346)	(1,235)
Other	54	(800)	(290)
All other financing activities	$ (280)	$ (1,127)	$ (1,362)