| **Postretirement Benefits (Tables)**                                                                     | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   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| **Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]**           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        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| Summary of changes in benefit obligations and plan assets                                                |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | A summary of the changes in benefit obligations and plan assets is as follows:  Pension Benefits Health and LifeInsurance Benefits  2011 2010 2011 2010(in millions)       Change in benefit obligations       Benefit obligations at beginning of year$4,005 $3,850 $1,162 $1,631Amendments and administrative changes— 4 302 (341)Service cost17 18 8 8Interest on obligations189 209 56 81Actuarial loss (gain)242 253 547 (89)Curtailments(11) (3) 11 2Contractual termination benefits38 1 6 (2)Retrospective payments due to retirees— — 15 —Currency translation26 1 — —Plan participants' contributions— — 34 32Subsidy receipts— — — 15Benefits paid(335) (328) (141) (175)Benefit obligations at end of year$4,171 $4,005 $2,000 $1,162        Change in plan assets       Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year$2,479 $2,317 $509 $473Actual return on plan assets75 369 22 78Currency translation25 (4) — —Employer contributions134 115 2 2Benefits paid(321) (318) (70) (44)Fair value of plan assets at end of year$2,392 $2,479 $463 $509Funded status at year end(1,779) (1,526) (1,537) (653)        Amounts recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of:       Current liability$(13) $(10) $(93) $(72)Noncurrent liability(1,766) (1,516) (1,444) (581)Net liability recognized$(1,779) $(1,526) $(1,537) $(653)        Amounts recognized in our accumulated other comprehensive loss consist of:       Net actuarial loss$2,170 $1,900 $654 $92Net prior service cost (benefit)5 8 (21) (352)Net amount recognized$2,175 $1,908 $633 $(260)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Components of postretirement benefits (income) expense included in Consolidated Statements of Operations |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | The components of our postretirement benefits (income) expense included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended October 31 consist of the following:  2011 2010 2009(in millions)     Pension expense$139 $142 $154Health and life insurance expense30 37 79Total postretirement benefits expense$169 $179 $233                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        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| Net postretirement benefits expense                                                                      | Net postretirement benefits expense included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations, and other amounts recognized in our Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit), for the years ended October 31 is comprised of the following:   PensionExpense (Income) Health and Life InsuranceExpense (Income)  2011 2010 2009 2011 2010 2009(in millions)            Service cost for benefits earned during the period $17 $18 $15 $8 $8 $6Interest on obligation 189 209 234 56 81 117Amortization of cumulative loss (gain) 97 98 72 4 8 (2)Amortization of prior service cost (benefit) 1 1 1 (29) (20) (5)Curtailments 2 1 6 11 2 —Contractual termination benefits 38 1 9 6 (2) 3Retrospective payments to retirees — — — 15 — —Premiums on pension insurance 6 7 6 — — —Expected return on assets (211) (193) (189) (41) (40) (40)Net postretirement benefits expense $139 $142 $154 $30 $37 $79Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive loss (income)            Actuarial net loss (gain) $374 $77 $713 $566 $(127) $180Amortization of cumulative gain (loss) (97) (98) (72) (4) (8) 2Prior service cost (benefit) — 4 4 302 (341) —Amortization of prior service benefit (cost) (1) (1) (1) 29 20 5Curtailments (13) (3) — — — —Currency translation 4 4 — — — —Total recognized in other comprehensive loss (income) $267 $(17) $644 $893 $(456) $187Total net postretirement benefits expense (income) and other comprehensive loss (income) $406 $125 $798 $923 $(419) $266 |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Amounts in AOCL to be recognized over next fiscal year                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | The estimated amounts for the defined benefit pension plans and the other postretirement benefit plans that will be amortized from AOCL into net periodic benefit expense over the next fiscal year are as follows:   PensionBenefits  Healthand LifeInsuranceBenefits (in millions)    Amortization of prior service cost (benefit) $1 $(5)Amortization of cumulative losses 109 37                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   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| Assumptions                                                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | The weighted average rate assumptions used in determining benefit obligations for the years ended October 31, 2011 and 2010 were:  Pension Benefits Health and Life                  Insurance Benefits 2011 2010 2011 2010Discount rate used to determine present value of benefit obligation at end of year4.2% 4.8% 4.2% 4.6%Expected rate of increase in future compensation levels3.5% 3.5% — —The weighted average rate assumptions used in determining net postretirement benefits expense for 2011, 2010, and 2009 were:  PensionBenefits Health and Life                          Insurance Benefits 2011 2010 2009 2011 2010 2009Discount rate(A)4.8% 5.4% 7.6% 4.6% 5.6% 8.4%Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets8.5% 8.5% 9.0% 8.5% 8.5% 9.0%Expected rate of increase in future compensation levels3.5% 3.5% 3.5% — — —______________________(A)In 2009 for pension benefits, the weighted average discount rate used to compute the expense for the period of November 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009 was 8.3%. Due to a plan remeasurement at January 31, 2009 at a rate of 6.5%, the weighted average discount rate for the full fiscal year 2009 was 7.6%.  In 2010 for health and life insurance benefits, the weighted average discount rate used to compute the expense for the period of November 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010 was 5.5%. Due to a plan remeasurement at March 31, 2010 at a rate of 5.6%, the weighted average discount rate for the full fiscal year 2010 was 5.6%.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Effect of one-percentage-point change in health care cost trend rates                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | The effect of changing the health care cost trend rate by one-percentage point for each future year is as follows:   One-PercentagePoint Increase   One-PercentagePoint Decrease  (in millions)    Effect on total of service and interest cost components $5 $(8)Effect on postretirement benefit obligation 192 (201)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       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| Expected Future Benefit Payments                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | The expected future benefit payments for the years ending October 31, 2012 through 2016 and the five years ending October 31, 2021 are estimated as follows:   Pension Benefit Payments Other Postretirement Benefit Payments(A)(in millions)    2012 $325 $1712013 320 1522014 313 1472015 307 1442016 299 1402017 through 2021 1,388 628                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    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| Pension [Member]                                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         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| **Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]**           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        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| Information for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Information for pension plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets were as follows:  2011 2010(in millions)   Projected benefit obligations$4,171 $4,005Accumulated benefit obligations4,113 3,942Fair value of plan assets2,392 2,479                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        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| Fair value of benefit plan assets by category                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |   2011 2010  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total(in millions)                Asset Category                Cash and Cash Equivalents $82 $— $— $82 $190 $— $— $190Equity                U.S. Large Cap 492 — — 492 482 — — 482U.S. SMid Cap 242 — — 242 193 — — 193Canadian 103 — — 103 113 — — 113International 179 — — 179 202 — — 202Emerging Markets 105 — — 105 112 — — 112Navistar Common Stock — — — — 50 — — 50Fixed Income                Corporate Bonds — 466 — 466 — 189 — 189Government Bonds — 225 — 225 — 309 — 309Asset Backed Securities — 19 — 19 — 24 — 24Mortgage Backed Securities — 8 — 8 — 9 — 9Collective Trusts and Other                Common and Preferred Stock — 231 — 231 — 284 — 284Commodities — 76 — 76 — 70 — 70Hedge Funds — — 99 99 — — 102 102Private Equity — — 75 75 — — 57 57Mutual Funds 34 — — 34 32 — — 32Real Estate — — 1 1 — — 1 1Unallocated Insurance Contract — — — — — — 120 120Other  — — — 3 — — 3Total(A) $1,237 $1,025 $175 $2,437 $1,377 $885 $280 $2,542______________________(A)For  October 31, 2011 and 2010, the total excludes $8 million and $6 million of receivables, respectively, included in the change in plan asset table. In addition, the table above includes the fair value of Canadian pension assets translated at the October 31, 2011  and October 31, 2010 exchange rates while the change in plan asset table includes the fair value of Canadian pension assets translated at historical foreign currency rates. |
| Schedule of Effect of Significant Unobservable Inputs, Changes in Plan Assets [Table Text Block]         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | The table below presents the changes for those financial instruments classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy for pension assets for the year ended October 31, 2011 and 2010:   Hedge Funds Private Equity Real Estate Insurance Contract(in millions)        Balance at November 1, 2009 $140 $35 $1 $110Unrealized gains 10 11 — 10Realized gains (losses) 1 — — —Purchases, issuances, and settlements (49) 11 — —Balance at October 31, 2010 $102 $57 $1 $120Balance at November 1, 2010 $102 $57 $1 $120Unrealized gains (losses) (21) 15 — —Realized gains (losses) 19 — — 1Purchases, issuances, and settlements (1) 3 — (121)Balance at October 31, 2011 $99 $75 $1 $—                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            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| Other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]                                                              |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 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| **Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]**           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        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| Fair value of benefit plan assets by category                                                            |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Other Postretirement Benefits   2011 2010  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total(in millions)                Asset Category                Cash and Cash Equivalents $24 $— $— $24 $43 $— $— $43Equity                U.S. Large Cap 100 — — 100 93 — — 93U.S. SMid Cap 59 — — 59 46 — — 46Emerging Markets — — — — 28 — — 28International 68 — — 68 85 — — 85Navistar Common Stock 26 — — 26 12 — — 12Fixed Income                Corporate Bonds — 77 — 77 — 88 — 88Government Bonds — 42 — 42 — 48 — 48Asset Backed Securities — 4 — 4 — 6 — 6Mortgage Backed Securities — 1 — 1 — 4 — 4Collective Trusts and Other                Commodities — 17 — 17 — 16 — 16Hedge Funds — — 25 25 — — 25 25Private Equity — — 19 19 — — 14 14Total(A) $277 $141 $44 $462 $307 $162 $39 $508___________________(A)For both October 31, 2011 and 2010, the total excludes $1 million of receivables included in the change in plan asset table.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| Schedule of Effect of Significant Unobservable Inputs, Changes in Plan Assets [Table Text Block]         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               | The table below presents the changes for those financial instruments classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy for other postretirement benefit assets for the years ended October 31, 2011 and 2010:   Hedge Funds Private Equity(in millions)    Balance at November 1, 2009 $33 $9Unrealized gains 2 2Purchases, issuances, and settlements (10) 3Balance at October 31, 2010 $25 $14Balance at November 1, 2010 $25 $14Unrealized gains (losses) (4) 4Purchases, issuances, and settlements 4 1Balance at October 31, 2011 $25 $19                                             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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
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| - Definition
Components Of Postretirement Benefits Income Expense Included in Statement Of Operations [Table Text Block]
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of accumulated benefit obligations and fair values of plan assets of pension plans and/or other employee benefit plans where the accumulated benefit obligation exceeds the fair value of plan assets.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Publisher FASB -Number  -Article  -Subparagraph (b) -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Paragraph 3 -Section 50 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e2417-114920
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the major categories of plan assets of pension plans and/or other employee benefit plans.  This information may include, but is not limited to, the target allocation of plan assets, the fair value of each major category of plan assets, and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Publisher FASB -Number  -Article  -Subparagraph (d)(5) -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Paragraph 1 -Section 50 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e1928-114920
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the amounts related to pension plans and/or other employee benefit plans in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year, including the net gain (loss), net prior service cost or credit, and net transition asset or obligation.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Publisher FASB -Subparagraph (s) -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Paragraph 1 -Section 50 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e1928-114920
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the assumptions used to determine for pension plans and/or other employee benefit plans the benefit obligation and net benefit cost, including assumed discount rates, rate increase in compensation increase, and expected long-term rates of return on plan assets.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Publisher FASB -Number  -Article  -Subparagraph (k) -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Paragraph 1 -Section 50 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6962843&loc=d3e1928-114920
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of one or more of the entity's defined benefit pension plans or one or more other defined benefit postretirement plans, separately for pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans including the entity's schedule of fair value of plan assets for defined benefit or other postretirement plans.
+ References
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the effect of a one-percentage-point increase and the effect of a one-percentage-point decrease in the assumed health care cost trend rates on the aggregate of the service and interest cost components of net periodic postretirement health care benefit costs and the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation for health care benefits.
+ References
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the effect of fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) on changes in plan assets of pension plans and/or other employee benefit plans for the period.
+ References
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of benefits expected to be paid by pension plans and/or other employee benefit plans in each of the next five fiscal years and in the aggregate for the five fiscal years thereafter.
+ References
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the components of net benefit costs for pension plans and/or other employee benefit plans including service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain (loss), prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain (loss) recognized due to settlements or curtailments.
+ References
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