STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions for options granted:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2012		2011		2010
Expected option life (years)	4.4		4.4		4.9
Expected annual volatility	61	%	61	%	61	%
Risk-free interest rate	0.8	%	1.2	%	2.6	%
Dividend yield	2.6	%	0.0	%	0.0	%

Stock Option Activity

A summary of Valassis' stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2012, is as follows:

	Shares		Weighted Average per Share Exercise Price		Remaining Contractual Life	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
					(in years)	($ in millions)
Outstanding at beginning of year	8,131,242		$	19.45
Granted	802,759		$	24.71
Exercised	(1,100,554	)	$	10.97
Forfeited/Expired	(901,401	)	$	30.86
Outstanding at end of year	6,932,046		$	19.93	5.21	$	51.5
Options exercisable at year end	4,227,684		$	19.65	3.72	$	32.9
Options expected to vest	2,444,513		$	20.41	7.54	$	16.7

Restricted Stock Activity

A summary of restricted stock activity for the year ended December 31, 2012 is as follows:

	Shares		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value per Share
Non-vested at beginning of year	550,206		$	27.88
Granted	440,150		$	25.62
Vested	(281,267	)	$	29.16
Forfeited	(5,829	)	$	22.67
Non-vested at end of year	703,260		$	26.00