Weighted Average Assumptions Used to Determine Benefit Obligations and Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2011	Oct. 31, 2010	Oct. 31, 2009
Defined Benefit Plans
Assumptions to measure net periodic cost
Discount rate		5.50%	7.00%
Rate of compensation increase	3.50%	3.50%	3.50%
Rate of return on plan assets	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Assumptions to measure obligation at year end
Discount rate			5.50%
Defined Benefit Plans | Minimum
Assumptions to measure net periodic cost
Discount rate	4.50%
Assumptions to measure obligation at year end
Discount rate	4.12%	4.50%
Defined Benefit Plans | Maximum
Assumptions to measure net periodic cost
Discount rate	4.98%
Assumptions to measure obligation at year end
Discount rate	4.51%	4.98%
Post-Retirement Benefit Plans
Assumptions to measure net periodic cost
Discount rate		5.50%	7.00%
Rate of health care cost increase		5.50%	6.00%
Rate of compensation increase	3.50%	3.50%	3.50%
Assumptions to measure obligation at year end
Discount rate			5.50%
Post-Retirement Benefit Plans | Minimum
Assumptions to measure net periodic cost
Discount rate	4.31%
Rate of health care cost increase	4.50%
Assumptions to measure obligation at year end
Discount rate	4.04%	4.31%
Post-Retirement Benefit Plans | Maximum
Assumptions to measure net periodic cost
Discount rate	5.02%
Rate of health care cost increase	8.00%
Assumptions to measure obligation at year end
Discount rate	4.56%	5.02%