Consolidated Statement of Equity (Unaudited) - 9 months ended Sep. 30, 2018 - USD ($) $ in Millions		Total	Total SPGI Equity	Common Stock $1 par	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Income	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Less: Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interests
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017		$ 768	$ 711	$ 412	$ 525	$ 10,025	$ (649)	$ 9,602	$ 57
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income	[1]	1,394	1,383			1,447	(64)		11
Dividends		(388)	(379)			(379)			(9)
Share repurchases		(1,113)	(1,113)					1,113
Employee stock plans		56	56		45			(11)
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(116)	(116)			(116)
Increase in CRISIL ownership		(26)	(25)		(25)				(1)
Stock consideration for Kensho		352	352		352
Other	[2]	31	36			26	10		(5)
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2018		$ 958	$ 905	$ 412	$ 897	$ 11,003	$ (703)	$ 10,704	$ 53

[1] Excludes $112 million attributable to our redeemable noncontrolling interest.

[2] Reflects opening balance sheet adjustments related to the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard and the reclassification of the unrealized loss on investments from Accumulated other comprehensive loss to Retained income. See Note 1 — Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation for additional details.