Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2012		Apr. 27, 2011		Apr. 28, 2010
Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 939,908		$ 1,005,948		$ 882,343
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	295,718		255,227		254,528
Amortization	47,075		43,433		48,308
Deferred tax (benefit)/provision	(94,816)		153,725		220,528
Net losses on divestitures	0		0		44,860
Pension contributions	(23,469)		(22,411)		(539,939)
Asset write-downs from Fiscal 2012 productivity initiatives	58,736		0		0
Other items, net	75,375		98,172		90,938
Changes in current assets and liabilities, excluding effects of acquisitions and divestitures:
Receivables (includes proceeds from securitization)	171,832		(91,057)		121,387
Inventories	60,919		(80,841)		48,537
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(11,584)		(1,682)		2,113
Accounts payable	(72,352)		233,339		(2,805)
Accrued liabilities	(20,008)		(60,862)		96,533
Income taxes	65,783		50,652		(5,134)
Cash provided by operating activities	1,493,117		1,583,643		1,262,197
Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(418,734)	[1]	(335,646)	[1]	(277,642)	[1]
Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment	9,817		13,158		96,493
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(3,250)		(618,302)		(11,428)
Proceeds from divestitures	3,828		1,939		18,637
Sale of short-term investments	56,780		0		0
Change in restricted cash	(39,052)		(5,000)		192,736
Other items, net	(11,394)		(5,781)		(5,353)
Cash (used for)/provided by investing activities	(402,005)		(949,632)		13,443
Financing Activities:
Payments on long-term debt	(1,440,962)		(45,766)		(630,394)
Proceeds from long-term debt	1,912,467		229,851		447,056
Net payments on commercial paper and short-term debt	(42,543)		(193,200)		(427,232)
Dividends	(619,104)		(579,618)		(533,552)
Purchase of treasury stock	(201,904)		(70,003)		0
Exercise of stock options	82,714		154,774		67,369
Acquisition of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests	(54,824)		(6,338)		(62,064)
Other items, net	1,321		27,791		(9,099)
Cash used for financing activities	(362,835)		(482,509)		(1,147,916)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(122,147)		89,556		(17,616)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	606,130		241,058		110,108
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	724,311		483,253		373,145
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 1,330,441		$ 724,311		$ 483,253

[1] Excludes property, plant and equipment obtained through acquisitions.