Statement of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows - operating activities
Net earnings	$ 13,355		$ 13,864		$ 14,443
Less: net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	298		223		292
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	13,057		13,641		14,151
(Earnings) loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	2,120		983		(29)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings attributable to the Company to cash provided from operating activities
Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment	9,762		9,192		8,986
Earnings from continuing operations retained by GECC(b)	0		0		0
Deferred income taxes	(3,295)		(1,152)		(204)
Decrease (increase) in GE current receivables	(485)		(879)		(670)
Decrease (increase) in inventories	(1,368)		(1,274)		(1,168)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable	360		(437)		1,204
Increase (decrease) in GE progress collections	1,893		(920)		(1,146)
Provision for losses on GECC financing receivables	4,818		3,832		3,930
All other operating activities	2,175		8,029		7,057
Cash from (used for) operating activities - continuing operations	29,037		31,015		32,111
Cash from (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations	(458)		316		1,248
Cash from (used for) operating activities	28,579		31,331		33,359
Cash flows - investing activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(13,458)		(15,119)		(12,637)
Dispositions of property, plant and equipment	5,883		6,184		5,867
Net decrease (increase) in GECC financing receivables	2,715		6,979		14,785
Proceeds from sales of discontinued operations	528		227		8,950
Proceeds from principal business dispositions	3,324		3,618		8,877
Proceeds from sales of associated companies	16,699		0		0
Net cash from (payments for) principal businesses purchased	(1,642)		(1,456)		(11,202)
All other investing activities	14,625		11,157		6,527
Cash from (used for) investing activities - continuing operations	28,674		11,590		21,167
Cash from (used for) investing activities - discontinued operations	443		(288)		(1,285)
Cash from (used for) investing activities	29,117		11,302		19,882
Cash flows - financing activities
Net increase (decrease) in borrowings (maturities of 90 days or less)	(14,230)		(2,231)		5,951
Net increase (decrease) in bank deposits	2,197		2,450		6,652
Newly issued debt (maturities longer than 90 days)	45,392		63,019		43,847
Repayments and other reductions (maturities longer than 90 days)	(61,461)		(103,942)		(85,706)
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock	990		3,960		0
Repayment of preferred stock	0		0		(3,300)
Net dispositions (purchases) of GE shares for treasury	(9,278)		(4,164)		(1,456)
Dividends paid to shareowners	(7,821)		(7,189)		(6,458)
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	0		0		(4,578)
All other financing activities	(1,418)		(2,958)		(1,867)
Cash from (used for) financing activities - continuing operations	(45,629)		(51,055)		(46,915)
Cash from (used for) financing activities - discontinued operations	56		(19)		52
Cash from (used for) financing activities	(45,573)		(51,074)		(46,863)
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	(795)		1,278		(841)
Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	11,328		(7,163)		5,537
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	77,459		84,622		79,085
Cash and equivalents at end of year	88,787		77,459		84,622
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations at end of year	232		191		182
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations at end of year	88,555		77,268		84,440
Supplemental disclosure of cash flows information
Cash paid during the year for interest	(8,690)		(12,717)		(15,571)
Cash recovered (paid) during the year for income taxes	(2,487)		(3,237)		(2,919)
Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash flows - operating activities
Net earnings	13,302	[1]	13,801	[1]	14,316	[1]
Less: net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	245	[1]	160	[1]	165	[1]
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	13,057	[1]	13,641	[1]	14,151	[1]
(Earnings) loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	2,120	[1]	983	[1]	(29)	[1]
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings attributable to the Company to cash provided from operating activities
Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment	2,449	[1]	2,291	[1]	2,068	[1]
Earnings from continuing operations retained by GECC(b)	(2,273)	[1],[2]	(919)	[1],[2]	(6,480)	[1],[2]
Deferred income taxes	(2,571)	[1]	(294)	[1]	(327)	[1]
Decrease (increase) in GE current receivables	(1,432)	[1]	1,105	[1]	(346)	[1]
Decrease (increase) in inventories	(1,351)	[1]	(1,204)	[1]	(1,122)	[1]
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable	809	[1]	158	[1]	1,938	[1]
Increase (decrease) in GE progress collections	1,919	[1]	(920)	[1]	(1,146)	[1]
Provision for losses on GECC financing receivables	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
All other operating activities	1,528	[1]	2,985	[1]	3,350	[1]
Cash from (used for) operating activities - continuing operations	14,255	[1]	17,826	[1]	12,057	[1]
Cash from (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations	(2)	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Cash from (used for) operating activities	14,253	[1]	17,826	[1]	12,057	[1]
Cash flows - investing activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(3,680)	[1]	(3,937)	[1]	(2,957)	[1]
Dispositions of property, plant and equipment	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Net decrease (increase) in GECC financing receivables	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Proceeds from sales of discontinued operations	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Proceeds from principal business dispositions	1,316	[1]	540	[1]	6,254	[1]
Proceeds from sales of associated companies	16,699	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Net cash from (payments for) principal businesses purchased	(8,026)	[1]	(1,456)	[1]	(11,152)	[1]
All other investing activities	(1,488)	[1]	(564)	[1]	(384)	[1]
Cash from (used for) investing activities - continuing operations	4,821	[1]	(5,417)	[1]	(8,239)	[1]
Cash from (used for) investing activities - discontinued operations	2	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Cash from (used for) investing activities	4,823	[1]	(5,417)	[1]	(8,239)	[1]
Cash flows - financing activities
Net increase (decrease) in borrowings (maturities of 90 days or less)	949	[1]	(890)	[1]	1,058	[1]
Net increase (decrease) in bank deposits	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Newly issued debt (maturities longer than 90 days)	512	[1]	6,961	[1]	177	[1]
Repayments and other reductions (maturities longer than 90 days)	(5,032)	[1]	(34)	[1]	(270)	[1]
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Repayment of preferred stock	0	[1]	0	[1]	(3,300)	[1]
Net dispositions (purchases) of GE shares for treasury	(9,278)	[1]	(4,164)	[1]	(1,456)	[1]
Dividends paid to shareowners	(7,821)	[1]	(7,189)	[1]	(6,458)	[1]
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	0	[1]	0	[1]	(4,303)	[1]
All other financing activities	(211)	[1]	32	[1]	(75)	[1]
Cash from (used for) financing activities - continuing operations	(20,881)	[1]	(5,284)	[1]	(14,627)	[1]
Cash from (used for) financing activities - discontinued operations	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Cash from (used for) financing activities	(20,881)	[1]	(5,284)	[1]	(14,627)	[1]
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	(22)	[1]	2	[1]	(50)	[1]
Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	(1,827)	[1]	7,127	[1]	(10,859)	[1]
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	15,509	[1]	8,382	[1]	19,241	[1]
Cash and equivalents at end of year	13,682	[1]	15,509	[1]	8,382	[1]
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations at end of year	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations at end of year	13,682	[1]	15,509	[1]	8,382	[1]
Supplemental disclosure of cash flows information
Cash paid during the year for interest	(812)	[1]	(1,182)	[1]	(1,177)	[1]
Cash recovered (paid) during the year for income taxes	(4,753)	[1]	(2,987)	[1]	(2,303)	[1]
Subsidiaries GECC [Member]
Cash flows - operating activities
Net earnings	6,257		6,278		6,637
Less: net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	53		63		127
Net earnings (loss) attributable to the Company	6,204		6,215		6,510
(Earnings) loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	2,054		1,130		(30)
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings attributable to the Company to cash provided from operating activities
Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment	7,313		6,901		6,918
Earnings from continuing operations retained by GECC(b)	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Deferred income taxes	(724)		(858)		123
Decrease (increase) in GE current receivables	0		0		0
Decrease (increase) in inventories	33		(27)		15
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable	73		(880)		19
Increase (decrease) in GE progress collections	0		0		0
Provision for losses on GECC financing receivables	4,818		3,832		3,930
All other operating activities	99		5,418		3,127
Cash from (used for) operating activities - continuing operations	19,870		21,731		20,612
Cash from (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations	(456)		316		1,248
Cash from (used for) operating activities	19,414		22,047		21,860
Cash flows - investing activities
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(9,978)		(11,879)		(9,869)
Dispositions of property, plant and equipment	5,883		6,184		5,867
Net decrease (increase) in GECC financing receivables	3,589		5,490		14,525
Proceeds from sales of discontinued operations	528		227		8,950
Proceeds from principal business dispositions	1,983		2,863		2,623
Proceeds from sales of associated companies	0		0		0
Net cash from (payments for) principal businesses purchased	6,384		0		(50)
All other investing activities	14,972		11,794		7,733
Cash from (used for) investing activities - continuing operations	23,361		14,679		29,779
Cash from (used for) investing activities - discontinued operations	441		(288)		(1,285)
Cash from (used for) investing activities	23,802		14,391		28,494
Cash flows - financing activities
Net increase (decrease) in borrowings (maturities of 90 days or less)	(13,892)		(1,401)		4,393
Net increase (decrease) in bank deposits	2,197		2,450		6,652
Newly issued debt (maturities longer than 90 days)	44,888		55,841		43,267
Repayments and other reductions (maturities longer than 90 days)	(56,429)		(103,908)		(85,436)
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock	990		3,960		0
Repayment of preferred stock	0		0		0
Net dispositions (purchases) of GE shares for treasury	0		0		0
Dividends paid to shareowners	(6,283)		(6,549)		0
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	0		0		(275)
All other financing activities	(909)		(2,867)		(1,792)
Cash from (used for) financing activities - continuing operations	(29,438)		(52,474)		(33,191)
Cash from (used for) financing activities - discontinued operations	56		(19)		52
Cash from (used for) financing activities	(29,382)		(52,493)		(33,139)
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash and equivalents	(773)		1,276		(791)
Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	13,061		(14,779)		16,424
Cash and equivalents at beginning of year	62,044		76,823		60,399
Cash and equivalents at end of year	75,105		62,044		76,823
Less cash and equivalents of discontinued operations at end of year	232		191		182
Cash and equivalents of continuing operations at end of year	74,873		61,853		76,641
Supplemental disclosure of cash flows information
Cash paid during the year for interest	(8,146)		(12,172)		(15,018)
Cash recovered (paid) during the year for income taxes	$ 2,266		$ (250)		$ (616)

[1] (a)        Represents the adding together of all affiliated companies except General Electric Capital Corporation (GECC or financial services), which is presented on a one-line basis. See Note 1.

[2] Represents GECC earnings from continuing operations attributable to the Company, net of GECC dividends paid to GE.