Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Financing (Schedule of Company Debt) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Financing (Schedule of Company Debt) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Jan. 31, 2015
Feb. 01, 2014
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount $ (18)us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount $ (14)us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
7.5% Senior Debentures Due 2015 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 69us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandFifteenMember 		0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandFifteenMember
5.75% Senior Notes Due 2014 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FivePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFourteenMember 		453us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FivePointSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFourteenMember
Capital Lease and Current Portion of Other Long-Term Obligations    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 7us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_CapitalLeaseAndCurrentPortionOfOtherLongTermObligationsMember 		10us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= m_CapitalLeaseAndCurrentPortionOfOtherLongTermObligationsMember
Short-term Debt [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 76us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ShortTermDebtMember 		463us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ShortTermDebtMember
2.875% Senior notes due 2023 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 750us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A2875SeniorNotesDue2023Member 		750us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A2875SeniorNotesDue2023Member
5.90% Senior Notes Due 2016 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 577us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FivePointNinePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandSixteenMember 		577us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FivePointNinePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandSixteenMember
3.875% Senior notes due 2022 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 550us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_ThreePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember 		550us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_ThreePointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentyTwoMember
4.5% senior notes due 2034[Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 550us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FourpointfivepercentseniornotesduetwothousandthirtyfourMemberMemberMemberMember 		0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FourpointfivepercentseniornotesduetwothousandthirtyfourMemberMemberMemberMember
3.625% senior notes due 2024[Member] [Member] [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_ThreepointsixtwofivepercentseniornotesduetwothousandtwentyfourMemberMemberMember 		0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_ThreepointsixtwofivepercentseniornotesduetwothousandtwentyfourMemberMemberMember
6.375% Senior Notes Due 2037 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SixPointThreeSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandThirtySevenMember 		500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SixPointThreeSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandThirtySevenMember
7.875% Senior Notes Due 2015 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFifteenMember 		407us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandFifteenMember
4.375% Senior notes due 2023 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 400us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A4.375Seniornotesdue2023Member 		400us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A4.375Seniornotesdue2023Member
6.9% Senior Debentures Due 2029 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 400us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SixPointNinePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember 		400us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SixPointNinePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
6.7% Senior Debentures Due 2034 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 400us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SixPointSevenPercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandThirtyFourMember 		400us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SixPointSevenPercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandThirtyFourMember
7.45% Senior Debentures Due 2017 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 300us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenpointfourfivepercentseniordebenturesduetwothousandseventeenMember 		300us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenpointfourfivepercentseniordebenturesduetwothousandseventeenMember
6.65% Senior Debentures Due 2024 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 300us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SixPointSixFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandFourteenMember 		300us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SixPointSixFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandFourteenMember
7.0% Senior Debentures Due 2028 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 300us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyEightMember 		300us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyEightMember
6.9% Senior Debentures Due 2032 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SixPointNinePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandThirtyTwoMember 		250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SixPointNinePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandThirtyTwoMember
5.125% Senior debentures due 2042 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FivePointOneTwoFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandFortyTwoMember 		250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_FivePointOneTwoFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandFortyTwoMember
4.3% Senior notes due 2043 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A43SeniorNotesDue2043Member 		250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_A43SeniorNotesDue2043Member
6.7% Senior Debentures Due 2028 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 200us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SixPointSevenPercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyEightMember 		200us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SixPointSevenPercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyEightMember
6.79% Senior Debentures Due 2027 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 165us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SixPointSevenNinePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentySevenMember 		165us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SixPointSevenNinePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentySevenMember
7.875% Senior Debentures Due 2036 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 108us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandThirtySixMember 		108us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandThirtySixMember
8.125% Senior Debentures Due 2035 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 76us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_EightPointOneTwoFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandThirtyFiveMember 		76us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_EightPointOneTwoFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandThirtyFiveMember
7.5% Senior Debentures Due 2015 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 0us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandFifteenMember 		69us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandFifteenMember
8.75% Senior Debentures Due 2029 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 61us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_EightPointSevenFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyNineMember 		61us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_EightPointSevenFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyNineMember
7.45% Senior Debentures Due 2016 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 59us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointFourFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandSixteenMember 		59us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointFourFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandSixteenMember
8.5% Senior Debentures Due 2019 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 36us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_EightPointFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember 		36us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_EightPointFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
10.25% Senior Debentures Due 2021 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 33us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_TenPointTwoFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember 		33us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_TenPointTwoFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember
9.5% Amortizing Debentures Due 2021 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 21us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_NinePointFivePercentAmortizingDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember 		25us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_NinePointFivePercentAmortizingDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember
7.6% Senior Debentures Due 2025 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 24us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointSixPercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyFiveMember 		24us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointSixPercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyFiveMember
9.75% Amortizing Debentures Due 2021 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 12us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_NinePointSevenFivePercentAmortizingDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember 		14us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_NinePointSevenFivePercentAmortizingDebenturesDueTwoThousandTwentyOneMember
7.875% Senior Debentures Due 2030 [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 18us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandThirtyMember 		18us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_SevenPointEightSevenFivePercentSeniorDebenturesDueTwoThousandThirtyMember
Premium on acquired debt    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 164us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_PremiumOnAcquiredDebtUsingEffectiveInterestYieldOfFourPointEightFiveFourPercentToSixPointOneSixFivePercentMember 		176us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_PremiumOnAcquiredDebtUsingEffectiveInterestYieldOfFourPointEightFiveFourPercentToSixPointOneSixFivePercentMember
Capital Lease and Other Long-Term Obligations [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding 29us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_CapitalLeaseAndOtherLongTermObligationsMember 		30us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_CapitalLeaseAndOtherLongTermObligationsMember
Total Of Long Term Debt [Member]    
Debt instrument, principal outstanding $ 7,265us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_TotalOfLongTermDebtMember 		$ 6,714us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= m_TotalOfLongTermDebtMember