What a mess.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Uh-oh. The U.S. economy suddenly looks weaker, after the government revised its data for the first quarter.

Gross domestic product — the broadest measure of economic activity — rose at a mere 1.8% annual pace between January and March, marking a sharp downward revision from the 2.4% pace reported by the Commerce Department last month.

The government revises its GDP figures several times, but economists weren’t expecting such a dramatic change from the third estimate.

“This was certainly unexpected and, I believe, rare,” said Jennifer Lee, senior economist with BMO Capital Markets, referring to the revision.

The weaker figures came primarily from revisions to consumer spending, exports and commercial real estate.