Segment and Geographic Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment information
Revenue	$ 1,250	$ 1,194	$ 1,250	$ 1,181	$ 1,226	$ 1,116	$ 1,072	$ 1,035	$ 4,875	$ 4,450	$ 3,954
Operating Profit	284	407	436	278	347	275	308	282	1,405	1,211	1,077
Depreciation & Amortization									137	141	126
Capital Expenditures									117	97	92
Assets held for sale	61				1,940				61	1,940
Total Assets	6,061				7,052				6,061	7,052
Intersegment elimination [Member]
Segment information
Revenue									(76)	(69)	(63)
Operating Profit									0	0	0
Total operating segments [Member]
Segment information
Revenue									4,875	4,450	3,954
Operating Profit									1,800	1,517	1,303
Depreciation & Amortization									126	124	109
Capital Expenditures									100	84	77
Total Assets	3,787				3,982				3,787	3,982
Unallocated expense [Member]
Segment information
Revenue									0	0	0
Operating Profit									(395)	(306)	(226)
Corporate [Member]
Segment information
Depreciation & Amortization									11	17	17
Capital Expenditures									17	13	15
Total Assets	2,213				1,130				2,213	1,130
S&P Ratings [Member]
Segment information
Revenue									2,274	2,034	1,767
Operating Profit									1,000	849	720
Depreciation & Amortization									45	43	40
Capital Expenditures									40	43	40
Total Assets	630				726				630	726
S&P Capital IQ [Member]
Segment information
Revenue									1,170	1,124	1,031
Operating Profit									211	208	214
Depreciation & Amortization									49	50	43
Capital Expenditures									39	22	21
Total Assets	1,054				1,123				1,054	1,123
S&P Indices [Member]
Segment information
Revenue									493	388	323
Operating Profit									278	212	189
Depreciation & Amortization									10	8	3
Capital Expenditures									4	2	2
Total Assets	1,160				1,133				1,160	1,133
C&C [Member]
Segment information
Revenue									1,014	973	896
Operating Profit									311	248	180
Depreciation & Amortization									22	23	23
Capital Expenditures									17	17	14
Total Assets	$ 943				$ 1,000				$ 943	$ 1,000