Segment and Related Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Segment information
Revenue	$ 1,181		$ 1,035	$ 1,035
Operating Income (Loss)	278		282	282
S&P Ratings [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	561			466
Operating Income (Loss)	259			186
S&P Capital IQ/S&P Indices [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	288			274
Operating Income (Loss)	56			62
Commodities & Commercial [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	115			79
Operating Income (Loss)	67			45
McGraw-Hill Education [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	236			233
Operating Income (Loss)	62			64
Intersegment elimination [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	(19)	[1]		(17)	[1]
Operating Income (Loss)	0	[1]		0	[1]
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	1,181			1,035
Operating Income (Loss)	444			357
General corporate expense [Member]
Segment information
Revenue	0	[2]		0	[2]
Operating Income (Loss)	(166)	[2]		(75)	[2]
Restructuring Charges	44		33
Spin Off Preparation [Member] | General corporate expense [Member]
Segment information
Restructuring Charges			29
Pretax Legal Settlement [Member] | General corporate expense [Member]
Segment information
Restructuring Charges	$ 77

[1] Revenue for S&P Ratings and expenses for S&P Capital IQ include an intersegment royalty charged to S&P Capital IQ for the rights to use and distribute content and data developed by S&P Ratings.

[2] ncludes Growth and Value Plan costs of $44 million and $29 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Also includes pre-tax legal settlements of approximately $77 million for the three months ended March 31, 2013.