BEIJING, March 24 (Xinhua) -- A total of 13,463 Chinese officials were punished in February for violating frugality rules, the top anti-graft body said Tuesday.

The officials were involved in 8,737 cases, with Hubei Province excluded, according to a statement published on the website of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission.

The punished officials include 77 at the prefecture or equivalent level and 672 at the county or equivalent level, according to the statement.

Engaging in the practice of formalities for formalities' sake or bureaucratism was the most common malfeasance, followed by misconduct including giving or accepting gifts, awarding unauthorized allowances or bonuses and misusing public funds for banquets, according to the statement.

The CPC released its eight-point rules on frugality in late 2012 to reduce undesirable work practices.