| **Segment Information**          | 12 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     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| **Segment Reporting [Abstract]** |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              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| Segment Information              | SEGMENT INFORMATION A.       Description of segmentsOur segment data is based on disclosure requirements of accounting guidance on segment reporting, which requires that financial information be reported on the basis that is used internally for measuring segment performance.  Internally, we report information for operating segments based on management responsibility.  Our operating segments offer primarily the same types of services within each of the respective segments.  The operating segments are as follows:•North America - Includes our operations in the United States and Canada that serve local dealers and customers.•Europe and Caterpillar Power Finance - This segment includes our operations that serve dealers and customers in Europe, Africa, Middle East and the Commonwealth of Independent States.  This segment also includes Caterpillar Power Finance (CPF), which finances marine vessels with Caterpillar engines worldwide and also provides debt financing for Caterpillar electrical power generation, gas compression and co-generation systems, as well as non-Caterpillar equipment that is powered by these systems worldwide. •Asia/Pacific - This segment includes our operations in Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia that serve local dealers and customers.  •Latin America - Includes our operations in Brazil, Mexico and Chile that serve local dealers and customers in Central and South America. •Mining - This segment includes large mining customers worldwide.  This segment also provides project financing in various countries.  B.       Measurement and reconciliationsCash, debt and other expenses are allocated to operating segments based on their respective portfolios.  The related Interest expense is calculated based on the amount of allocated debt and the rates associated with that debt.  Effective January 1, 2013, the performance of each segment is assessed based on a consistent leverage ratio. The Provision for credit losses included in each operating segment's profit is based on each operating segment's share of the Company's Allowance for credit losses. To align with changes in executive management responsibilities and measurement of segment performance, our management reporting was updated effective January 1, 2013.  Prior year data has been revised to conform to the 2013 presentation.  Reconciling items are created based on accounting differences between operating segment reporting and our consolidated external reporting. For the reconciliation of profit before income taxes, we have grouped the reconciling items as follows:•Unallocated - This item is related to corporate requirements and strategies that are considered to be for the benefit of the entire organization.  Also included are the consolidated results of the special purpose corporation (see Note 7 for additional information) and other miscellaneous items.•Timing - Timing differences in the recognition of costs between operating segment reporting and consolidated external reporting.•Methodology - Methodology differences between our operating segment reporting and our consolidated external reporting are as follows:◦Segment assets include off-balance sheet managed assets for which we typically maintain servicing responsibilities.◦The impact of the difference between the actual leverage and the segment leverage ratios is included as a methodology difference.◦Interest expense includes realized forward points on foreign currency forward contracts, with the mark-to-market elements of the forward exchange contracts included as a methodology difference.◦The profit attributable to noncontrolling interests is considered a component of segment profit.As noted above, the operating segment information is presented on a management-reporting basis.  Unlike financial reporting, there is no authoritative guidance for management reporting equivalent to U.S. GAAP.Supplemental segment data and reconciliations to consolidated external reporting for the years ended December 31 was as follows:(Millions of dollars) 2012Revenues SegmentProfit InterestExpense Depreciationon equipmentleased toothers Provisionforcreditlosses SegmentAssets atDecember 31,2012 CapitalexpendituresNorth America$938 $263 $270 $274 $15 $11,305 $565Europe and CPF467 84 134 76 65 7,785 243Asia/Pacific399 132 155 23 24 6,151 133Latin America389 111 141 64 26 4,973 172Mining451 60 90 250 27 3,212 545Total Segments2,644 650 790 687 157 33,426 1,658Unallocated73 (93) 61 1 1 1,529 —Timing(24) (6) — — 3 17 2Methodology— 40 (50) — — (61) —Inter-segment Eliminations— — — — — (169) —Total$2,693 $591 $801 $688 $161 $34,742 $1,660               2011Revenues SegmentProfit InterestExpense Depreciationon equipmentleased toothers Provisionforcreditlosses SegmentAssets atDecember 31,2011 CapitalexpendituresNorth America$959 $222 $303 $276 $34 $10,867 $530Europe and CPF506 37 166 89 105 6,922 118Asia/Pacific333 112 129 16 28 4,605 42Latin America350 111 127 47 17 3,995 175Mining446 72 90 260 3 2,635 321Total Segments2,594 554 815 688 187 29,024 1,186Unallocated73 (92) 69 2 2 1,253 3Timing(22) 6 — — (13) 67 1Methodology— 36 (57) — — 15 —Inter-segment Eliminations— — — — — (247) —Total$2,645 $504 $827 $690 $176 $30,112 $1,190               2010Revenues SegmentProfit InterestExpense Depreciationon equipmentleased toothers Provisionforcreditlosses SegmentAssets atDecember 31,2010 CapitalexpendituresNorth America$982 $37 $369 $302 $120 $10,897 $512Europe and CPF502 64 201 92 50 7,219 120Asia/Pacific441 96 136 133 25 4,360 21Latin America297 102 119 29 9 3,432 109Mining252 45 64 131 (3) 1,518 156Total Segments2,474 344 889 687 201 27,426 918Unallocated103 (47) 76 3 — 1,415 40Timing(25) (17) — — 12 113 1Methodology— 49 (48) — — (21) —Inter-segment Eliminations— — — — — (181) —Total$2,552 $329 $917 $690 $213 $28,752 $959              Inside and outside the United States: (Millions of dollars)        2012 2011 2010Revenues      Inside U.S. $1,142 $1,112 $1,138Inside Canada 347 374 362Inside Australia 301 259 222All other 903 900 830Total $2,693 $2,645 $2,552       Equipment on Operating Leases and Non-Leased  Equipment (included in Other Assets), Net 2012 2011 2010Inside U.S. $1,218 $986 $1,044Inside Canada 761 771 818Inside Australia 342 314 343All other 742 592 567Total $3,063 $2,663 $2,772        |

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| - Definition
The entire disclosure for reporting segments including data and tables. Reportable segments include those that meet any of the following quantitative thresholds a) it's reported revenue, including sales to external customers and intersegment sales or transfers is 10 percent or more of the combined revenue, internal and external, of all operating segments b) the absolute amount of its reported profit or loss is 10 percent or more of the greater, in absolute amount of 1) the combined reported profit of all operating segments that did not report a loss or 2) the combined reported loss of all operating segments that did report a loss c) its assets are 10 percent or more of the combined assets of all operating segments.
+ References
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